God or Empire; Mary or Martha?

Friday, October 27, 2006 -- Week of Proper 24

"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

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. 989)
Psalm 31 (morning) // 35 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 11:2-20 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 9:13-21
Luke 10:38-42

I've said before that the vision of the apocalypse the Revelation of John of the destruction and killing much of the earth as the means by which God establishes justice is not reconcilable with other Biblical visions of God's justice. It does not reflect how Jesus lived or how he described God. Yet the plagues and destruction Revelation describes are all things that we human beings are capable of unleashing upon the world.

The world that John is visioning for such judgment is remarkably like ours. For John the enemy is the Roman Empire. Interestingly enough, his complaint against the empire occurs not in reference to any form of persecution against Christians, but simply against the empire itself -- its arrogance and its wealthy materialism.

Rome has established peace through the power of its military legions. Rome has colonized the world (at least to the border Euphrates that John references), established markets and infrastructure (especially roads, fresh water, and baths), stabilized government, built great public works, and created global economic machine. This is the enemy, according to John. More than one scholar has said that the United States is today's Roman Empire. Flee from Roman idolatry, John would say. It is good for nothing but destruction.
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As one who commits to more than I can accomplish and finds some days have more promises than I can keep, I was struck by some of Ben Sira's words, especially in context of the gospel reading.

"My child, do not busy yourself with many matters; if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless. If you pursue, you will not overtake, and by fleeing you will not escape. There are those who work and struggle and hurry, but are so much the more in want. There are others who are slow and need help, who lack strength and abound in poverty; but they eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them; he lifts them out of their lowly condition and raises up their heads to the amazement of many."

Maybe you've seen the t-shirt -- "The One Who Dies With the Largest Checklist, Wins." I read a study that showed that peasant herders in a remote, primitive tribe in Africa score as high on a happiness quotient as the happiest of Americans, and considerably higher than Americans living in poverty.

Today Jesus does not get caught up in the anxiety of an over-busy Martha, but invites her to let go of her distractions and "many things." "There is need of only one thing." Mary is sitting, visiting with Jesus in conversation. "Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her." Jesus won't let the pressure of Martha's busy-ness take away that better part.

Who will run my life today? Mary or Martha? God or Empire?

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