Pretty Simple Stuff

Thursday, July 6, 2006 -- Week of Proper 8

"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 131, 132, [133] (morning) // 134, 135 (evening)
Numbers 23:11-26
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 22:1-14


Balik the King of Moab hires the famous prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites; Balaam can't do it because God has blessed them. Paul says there is no condemnation in Christ and contrasts life in the Spirit with life in the flesh. Matthew tells of the royal wedding banquet which expands its invitation to everyone.

So much of our spiritual teaching and the invitation into spiritual practice intends to convey a simple message -- Everyone is loved and blessed, so live that way.

It's a simple message, but not easy. We are invited to rethink everything. Know yourself to be perfectly loved and blessed. Relax. Look at all creation as the gift of God through which God gives blessing. See. Even when things look evil and broken and ill, God is always bringing life out of death. It is all the context for resurrection, healing and ultimate reconciliation. Live.

Accept the invitation to the party. In a sense, there's nothing to it.

Lowell
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Anyone may subscribe to receive "Morning Reflections" by email.
Send a regular email to the following address: lowell-request@arkansasusa.com
Then, type the following command in the main body of the email:
JOIN lowell your-email-address (example: JOIN lowell JaneDoe@aol.com)

I also send the upcoming Sunday scripture readings to this same list.

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