Dealing With Novelty

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 -- Week of Proper 14 (St. Mary the Virgin)

"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. 979)
Psalm 97, 99, [100] (morning) // 94, [95] (evening)
Judges 13:1-15
Acts 5:27-42
John 3:22-36

Dealing with Novelty

In Acts 5 we have the gentle example of Gamaliel whose reconciling words bring some relief to an escalating religious conflict. Peter and the disciples are preaching a novelty. It is a teaching that has some bite to it in that they accuse the religious authorities of wrong action. "You wrongly killed Jesus," they are saying. "He has risen and so God has justified him. He is the Messiah."

Peter's argument is not convincing. A crucified Messiah is a hard sell, especially to the authorities who consented to his crucifixion. Peter rubs it in by saying you "hung him on a tree." The Holiness Code of the Torah says "cursed be all who are hung on a tree." A Messiah who is cursed by Holy Scripture is a hard sell.

The authorities have tried to stop this novelty by putting them in prison. That didn't shut them up. They believe that they are following God's will. They have said they will continue to proclaim the crucified Jesus. They must obey God's authority rather than the religious authority.

Most systems with authoritative power would ratchet up the punishment at this point. Banish them; throw them out of the community; maybe longer prison terms; some corporal punishment; the threat or the act of capital punishment if necessary. But Gamaliel offers a gentler option.

We've seen other novelties come and go. Don't get too anxious about this one. If it is not of God, it will not last too long. But, if it is of God, you can't stop it, and you might even find yourself fighting God. Let them alone. The council accepts this moderate proposal, and the disciples are flogged, admonished and left alone.

Many years ago I was on the National Cursillo Committee. A dear friend who is now a Bishop successfully proposed a resolution that leadership roles is Cursillo would be withheld from people whose lifestyle was inappropriate -- it was a resolution targeting people who were gay. The next year, two people who had been long-time diocesan leaders in their Cursillo communities asked the committee to reconsider its decision. One of those person's cited this story of Gamaliel. "You don't have to accept or agree with us. Just let us alone. Don't ban us. Let us offer our ministries." We adjourned for prayer. This was the reading appointed. Later that day the committee rescinded the policy.

Recently a rector and most of his congregation in Kansas sought to leave the Diocese of Kansas because of their objection to the decisions of the General Convention. Instead of going to litigation to prevent the group from retaining any interest in the church property (all church property is held in trust by the diocese on behalf of the whole Episcopal Church), the diocese negotiated with the priest and congregation that was leaving. They arrived at a fair and mutually agreeable settlement. The diocese bought the church's property and assumed its debt, allowing the group to leave with some resources to begin their new church. The diocese is now helping those who wished to remain Episcopalians to renew their congregation in the old building.

How can Gamaliel's law help us in these times of conflict?
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A quick note about the first reading. It was struck by Manoa's question of the angel. This promised child will be special -- under a Nazarite vow for life. The father asks, "Now when your words come true, what is to be the boy's rule of life; what is he to do?"

Having a rule of life is an important part of our spiritual practice. Reading Morning Prayer and writing my Morning Reflections is a part of my rule of life. Summer is a good time to review a rule of life. What is it? How is it going? What needs to be changed, renewed?

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