Claiming too much

Monday, September 11, 2006 -- Week of Proper 18

"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 location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 983)
Psalm 41, 52 (morning) // 44 (evening)
Job 32:1-10, 19 - 33:1, 19-28
Acts 13:44-52
John 10:19-30

What is claiming too much?

In Job we have a little comic relief that serves some dramatic purpose to postpone the cosmic encounter with God. Elihu serves the part of the fool. He claims to know more than the others (that's always a mark of a fool in ancient literature). He describes his heart as "like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst." He's something of a blowhard. But he is certain. And he is certain of his certainties. He speaks with confident boldness. But he doesn't make much sense.

In the portion we read today, Elihu's speech is the kind of talk that makes you want to pull somebody's hair out, preferably his. He is so sure that if you are a good person and you pray to God, even from the edge of death, God will heal you. I've known people like that. People who speak to one who is ill, and speak with such confidence. "If you just believe enough... If you'll just pray to God, pray hard enough..."

I've known remarkable healings. I've seen healing miracles. I've seen people restored from the brink of death. But, it is a mystery. It's not about us believing enough. I've known those who believed truly and prayed earnestly, and did not get well. Visitors like Elihu tended to make them feel doubly cursed -- not only for the suffering of their illness, but also for the implied responsibility that it was their fault that the didn't get well. It can be confusing. "I believed with all my heart, didn't I? I prayed so hard. Why didn't I get well? It is my fault?"

Elihu is the bad answer to that profound question. The mysterious epiphany of God to Job is the better answer to that question. Elihu claims way too much.

Jesus is threatened with stoning for claiming too much in today's reading from John. He points to his works. He is doing the work of God. That is his testimony. Then he says, "The Father and I are one." To his listeners, that was claiming too much. They took up stones to stop his blasphemy. The conversation will continue tomorrow. Jesus will point to hints in the Hebrew scripture that imply that those who were given God's word are all gods and children of the Most High. He'll claim a lot, for himself and for anyone who can hear this word.

Finally, Paul claims too much for the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia (in today's central Turkey). Antioch was a very Romanized city, with state built aqueducts, baths, and a thriving imperial cult to honor the Caesars. Among those who attended the synagogue would have been Jews of the Diaspora, but also "god fearers," Gentiles who were attracted to the teaching and ethics of Judaism. Paul's primary target audience for his mission was to these god-fearers. He offered them a message of great hope, an ethic of virtue, without the impediments of circumcision and other Jewish customs. Almost like the porridge of the baby bear in the children's story of The Three Bears, Paul's offering was "just right." The religion of the Jews was "too hot;" the religion of the Romans was "too cold." But the religion of Jesus that Paul taught was "just right."