Faith / Circumcision // Love / Marriage

Tuesday, June 27, 2006 -- Week of Proper 7

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this link -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 973)
Psalms 97, 99, [100] (morning) // 94, [95] (evening)
Numbers 16:20-35
Romans 4:1-12
Matthew 19:23-30

(I typed in today's Gospel for yesterday's reading. Yesterday's reading was supposed to be Matthew 19:13-22. Since I skipped it yesterday, that's what I'm reading today, but 23-30 is the correct lesson for today.)


The argument that Paul is making has some parallels for those of us who wish to extend the church's recognition and blessing to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. What is the defining character of righteousness? Paul looks to the origins and source, Abraham, the first patriarch, who was "reckoned as righteous." Was Abraham's righteousness defined by his faith and trust in God or by his circumcision? Paul says it was Abraham's faith that was defining. Abraham had faith, so God declared him righteous. (Gen. 15) Later (Gen. 17) Abraham was circumcised as a sign of the covenant.

Therefore faith is fundamental. Abraham is the ancestor to all who trust God, not just the ancestor to all who are circumcised as Jews. The promise of many ancestor is a promise that passes on to all people of faith, not just to those who follow the law, the covenant of circumcision. So, says Paul, Gentiles who accept the gift of God's acceptance and blessing by trusting God in faith are also inheritors of the blessing of Abraham. Righteousness is primarily about faith, not circumcision.

We might ask a similar question about our human relationship. Is the defining relationship of marriage the couple's commitment of faithful love or their maleness and femaleness? Which is more defining, their sexual differentiation or their love? People answer that question differently, but for me, it is the love which is more essential and defining. Marriage is primarily about the commitment of faithful love.

Just as Paul has seen the presence of faith in the uncircumcised, so I have seen the presence of faithful love in people of same-sex orientation. Paul struggled mightily to have Gentiles included in the congregation of the faithful; it was his primary issue of conflict throughout his ministry. It continues to be a struggle to include gay and lesbian Christians in the full life of blessing in the church.

For me it looks like a similar struggle to the one Paul engaged in. Will ours be a community of law or or faith, law or love? Will we observe the outward form or the inner reality? It's an ancient question for the church.

Lowell

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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas