Hidden Heroes: The Secret is in the Eyes: Marc Gafni

Hidden Saints

There is a Kabbalistic tradition that the world rests on 36 hidden saints. They are the polished gemstones of God’s creation. Israel, Master of the Good Name, seemed always to be happening across their paths and so he indulged his disciples with the stories and teachings he would hear from these sacred saints.

“But we want to see them also,” begged his students. Day after day they pressed him reveal the hidden men to them as well.
“So be it,” said Israel. At the close of the following week, he said to his disciples, “So…were you not impressed by them greatly?”

“But what do you mean?” replied the astonished disciples, “Impressed by who? We didn’t see a single saintly soul.”

“Ahh,” says the master, ”So you did not see them. That doesn’t mean they were not there. Remember the beggar who came for a loaf of bread? — A saint! And the young widow crying that she had lost her husband. She too was one of them. And the juggler in the circus on Thursday. He too was of their number.”

“Holy disciples,” said the master to his beloved students, “The secret is in the eyes. The secret is in the eyes.”

Ah, would that we all could have the eyes to see the saint hidden in each passing face. Who knows, perhaps you too are one of their number, so well hidden that even you have yet to perceive your hidden light.

marc gafni
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