Realism and Trust

Friday, July 14, 2006 -- Week of Proper 9

"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

Discussion Blog
To comment on today's reflection or readings, go to http://lowellsblog.blogspot.com, find today's reading, click "comment" at the bottom of the reading, and post your thoughts.

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 973)
Psalm 16, 17 (morning) // 22 (evening)
Deuteronomy 31:7-1,24-32:4
Romans 10:1-13
Matthew 24:15-31

For the most part we have ominous readings today, with deep nuggets of trust at their center. Psalm 22 sounds the deep existential cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" The psalmist faces overwhelming threats and speaks them to God with realism and frankness. With a cry of "help" we feel the mood shift. Though the circumstances may not have changed, the psalmist is able to trust God even unto death. "My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; they shall be known as the Lord's for ever. They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that he has done."

Moses finishes with the law, its words having been promulgated for the previous 27 chapters. He places the law with the ark of the covenant and calls upon the law as witness. Moses predicts that the people of Israel will disobey this law in the future and will suffer gravely for their disobedience. He then turns his face toward God, "the Rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he."

Paul has been considering with great feeling the tragic irony that the elected people of God failed to recognize the Messiah, Christ who is the end of the law. Though their own tradition is grounded in faith, the example of Abraham's trust being the father of faith, most Jews have not embraced this gift of life in faith. Yet Paul continues with profound hope for both Jew and Gentile. "The same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'" He proclaims God's nearness, quoting Deuteronomy the, book of Moses, "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart."

And in Matthew we start with "desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place" and continue into descriptions of horrible terror and suffering, with warnings about false messiahs. Most of what is described actually occurred during the Jewish war that culminated in the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. Yet in the midst of this chapter of apocalypse, there is the vision of the coming of the Son of Man, "as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west."

A pattern seems to emerge. There is a realistic acceptance of the horror, brokenness and threat that can overwhelm us even unto death. And there is an expression of trust and hope in the God who is always with us. Realism and trust. I'm reminded of the words, "Perfect love casts out fear."