Friday, December 22, 2006

Expectations of the Messiah

Friday, December 22 2006 -- Week of 3 Advent -- (Ember Day)

"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. 938)
Psalms 40, 54 (morning) // 51 (evening)
Isaiah 10:5-19
2 Peter 2:17-22
Matthew 11:2-15

Yesterday we read of the ministry of John the Baptist. In the tradition of the great prophets, he spoke from the wilderness calling people to repentance. He said he was preparing them for the coming of "one who is more powerful than I." John described his expectations of this messianic figure: "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." John is articulating the traditional hope for a Messiah who will lead Israel to military victory over its enemies and will inaugurate a new reign of justice to reward the good and punish the evil.

It is sometime later. John is in prison. Jesus has begun his public ministry. But what Jesus is doing does not completely match John's expectations. There is no apparent winnowing; the chaff is not being punished. John wonders -- is this really the one? He sends word to find out.

The answer that Jesus gives John references other messianic expectations from Isaiah: "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them."

Jesus will not fulfill some of the expectations of the Messiah. He will not be a military warrior. He will not use power to punish. He will absorb violence rather than administer it. Blessed is anyone who is not scandalized by that, he says (11:6). "Until now," Jesus says, "the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force." But this is not the way of Jesus. The way of Jesus is a nonviolent path.

True power always triumphs over mere force. But too often in its history the church has abandoned that way. Even today we read of messianic expectations that are full of violence and bloody judgment -- the "Left Behind" series and various dispensationalist theories. The polemic of 2 Peter betrays similar expectations.

Won't the Jesus who returns be the same Jesus? Hasn't he shown us the way? It is not the way of violence and force. He is the way of love and compassion, open and willing to suffer violence rather than to commit it. Blessed is anyone who is not scandalized by this way of humble peace.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Prophecy or Polemic?

Thursday, December 21, 2006 -- Week of 3 Advent -- (St. Thomas)

"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. 938)
Psalms 50 (morning) // [59, 60] or 33 (evening)
Isaiah 9:18 - 10:4
2 Peter 2:10b-16
Matthew 3:1-12

What is prophecy and what is polemic?

Today we read two kinds of oracles from Isaiah. Both bear the marks of traditional prophecy. The first set of verses describe suffering and violence that afflicted Ephraim and Samaria ( the northern kingdom of Israel) during the first half of the eighth century BCE. Isaiah describes the wickedness like fire that burns up people on all sides. He declares this violence to be the judgment of God.

A second set of prophecies condemned the injustice of the rich and powerful "who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right." Isaiah says that God will punish them for their greed and pride.

These passages speak of powerful and violent judgment. And there is little doubt that they bear the character of classical prophecy.

The chapter we are reading in 2 Peter is also full of judgment language. The writer speaks from the perspective of the fourth generation of Christians, when various debates over theological positions and church practices are threatening to divide the church. Writing in the form of a "last will and testament" from the dead hero Peter, an unknown church leader attacks those who he believes are threatening the church because of their skepticism about the Lord's return.

He doesn't mince words. He calls his enemies "bold and willful, ...slanderous, ...irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed, ...blots and blemishes, ...eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin, ...hearts trained in greed, accursed children!" For me, this is polemical language, not prophecy. We will read another stomach full of it tomorrow.

The liturgical calendar regularly calls forth readings from Isaiah, and rarely from 2 Peter. Our liturgical practice seems to mark the difference.

Now we come to John the Baptist. He seems to be a combination of both prophecy and polemic. He speaks with the power and authority of an Isaiah or another of the great prophets. But his expectations of the Messiah were not lived out in Jesus. His picture of the Messiah is of one whose ax is ready to cut down and burn from the root those who do not bear good fruit. "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his thrashing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." That's not what happened.

Jesus came healing and forgiving, living the values of compassion and unqualified love. Later, a hopeful but confused John will send messengers to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one?" Jesus answers with words from the prophets that describe his ministry of compassion.

In times of conflict like ours, how do you tell the difference? When you hear powerful language, is prophecy or is it polemic?

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The Wilderness

Wednesday, December 20, 2006 -- Week of 3 Advent

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. 938)
Psalms 119:49-72 (morning) // 49, [53] (evening)
Isaiah 9:8-17
2 Peter 2:1-10a
Mark 1:1-8

There is a great and complicated tradition in the biblical narrative that reflects on Israel's relationship with God as it is formed in the wilderness. In our reading from Isaiah today we see the prophet interpreting the fall of Israel and their wilderness exile as the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness. God through the prophets has been unable to get the attention of God's people. If they had listened to the prophets, they could have avoided disaster. As it is, their hearts were hard and greedy, and catastrophe has fallen. Isaiah sees this enforced wilderness as both a consequence of sin and a judgment from God.

Yet it is in the wilderness that God cares intimately for God's people -- feeding them, comforting them, nurturing them, and forming them into community. The Gospel of Mark draws on this tradition from Isaiah by interpreting the wilderness ministry of John the Baptist as the prophet's voice declaring that the Messiah is coming via a road through the wilderness.

John calls the people to come out into the wilderness, away from the distraction and indulgence of urban life, in order to prepare for the one who is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself, after his baptism by John, feels the Spirit drive him into the wilderness. There he confronts the deepest darkness of the human condition and prepares himself for his own vocation.

Wilderness is the place of judgment and renewal. Many people intentionally enter the wilderness regularly. They open themselves in daily prayer to the darkness of their own temptations and a vulnerable awareness of their sin. They abandon the usual comforts and excuses through which we avoid self-awareness and responsibility. They open themselves to God, alone and exposed. Through this journey of purgation, they are cleansed, healed, comforted and strengthened for service. For many people the practice of taking an occasional retreat offers a more extended visit into the wilderness.

Sometimes we are sent into the wilderness and it is not our choice. In those vulnerable and threatening times, it can be helpful to remember that God meets us in the wilderness. It is the Messiah's road. Prepare ye the way.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Darkness to Light

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 -- Week of 3 Advent

"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. 938)
Psalms 45 (morning) // 47, 48 (evening)
Isaiah 9:1-7
2 Peter 1:12-21
Luke 22:54-69

Today we have snapshots of Jesus and Peter. One picture occurs during their time of trial. Another picture offers the interpretations of future generations.

Jesus has been arrested. Peter follows at a safe distance, but it is not as safe as he imagined. Three times during the evening someone tries to connect him with Jesus. Three times Peter denies any connection or knowledge of Jesus. The cock crows, and Jesus' eyes meet Peter's. Just hours ago Jesus had predicted, over Peter's protestations, that Peter would deny him. Peter leaves weeping bitterly. He has failed his test.

Jesus endures brutal hazing and interrogation. All night long he is beaten and questioned. He holds on to the hope that God will vindicate. The brutality and judgment of the accusers continues toward its fatal end. Darkness has its triumph.

It is two generations or so later. The church's memory of Peter is that of a founding hero. There is insecurity in the movement because the expected return of the Lord has not occurred. Some are saying that Jesus will never return. A church authority writes in the name of Peter and urges the church to remain faithful, "until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

It is eight centuries earlier and the prophet Isaiah looks hopefully for a faithful heir for David's throne. The post-resurrection church remembers these words, and sees their fulfillment in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. These words will be sent to great music to celebrate his triumph: "for a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them life has shined."

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

Monday, December 18, 2006

When the Worst Happens

Monday, December 18, 2006 -- Week of 3 Advent

"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. 938)
Psalms 41, 52 (morning) // 44 (evening)
Isaiah 8:16 - 9:1
2 Peter 1:1-11
Luke 22:39-53

There are times when nothing more can be said, when nothing more can be done, when what you have prayed to be delivered from, actually comes to be. These are desperate and threatening times.

Isaiah has said everything he can to convince young King Ahaz to forgo an alliance with Assyria and to trust God for deliverance. The king did not heed his warnings. So Isaiah withdraws, binds up his testimony, and waits with his disciples, knowing catastrophe is on the way.

Jesus prays earnestly, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." His anguish is extreme. Then it happens. His friend Judas guides the temple authorities to this dark place, and betrays Jesus with a kiss. The prayer to avoid this time of trial has not been answered. Jesus must faces what he has dreaded. He faces it with a spirit of surrendered obedience to the will of God.

When one of Jesus' followers reacts with characteristically human defensiveness -- taking a weapon to defend his friend with force -- Jesus speak emphatically: "No more of this!" For many centuries the church followed this command literally. For a soldier to be baptized and admitted into the Christian fellowship, he had to give up his vocation. Jesus offers an alternative way from defensiveness and violence. He heals the injury that his disciple has caused in this violent attempt to defend Jesus. There will be no fight today. Jesus will do what Ahaz could not. Jesus will trust God in the time of trial.

From one perspective, Jesus' trust is misplaced. God does not rescue him. God does not save him from suffering. The worst happens. He is unjustly convicted, painfully tortured, and killed in a slow, public death. It doesn't get much worse than that.

But everything changes through resurrection. God raises Jesus from the dead. This was unexpected. It is the divine surprise. It is more than we can hope or pray for. This is what God can do when we surrender completely in trust. Anything less than that complete surrender in trust compromises the options that God wishes to employ on our behalf.

Sometimes the darkness comes. Sometimes the time of trial that we have prayed to be delivered from happens. That is when Jesus is with us most profoundly. We can unite our surrender and suffering to the surrender and suffering of Jesus, trusting that God will do with our suffering what God did with Jesus'. Resurrection.

Lowell
______________________________________________


To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Friday, December 15, 2006

Children & Passovers

Friday, December 15, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 31 (morning) // 35 (evening)
Isaiah 7:10-25
1 Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:5
Luke 22:14-30

Today we read of the prophet Isaiah's second attempt to convince the King Ahaz not to enter into a foreign alliance, but rather to trust God to defend Judah from a threatened invasion from Israel and Syria, intended to depose Ahaz. Again, Isaiah uses a child to illustrate his prophecy. A young woman who is now pregnant will bear a child. By the time the child is able to eat solid food and respond to parental discipline, this threat will have passed and Judah will be safe. The child's name is Immanuel, which means "God is with us." The prophecies continue to describe God's protection of Judah from Egypt and Assyria, and the destruction that will come to Israel.

The original Hebrew word used to describe this woman is a word used to indicate that she is a woman of marriageable age. When the Hebrew text was translated into Greek, the word "virgin" was used. In the context of the original prophecy, the young woman is probably Isaiah's wife, and as the father, Isaiah is exercising his right to name his own child. Since this prophecy is made in the background of a threat to the monarchy, it is not unreasonable to interpret these words as a prophecy about a royal heir, possibly Hezekiah, who succeeded Ahaz on the throne of Judah. After the Davidic line had ceased to rule, this passage became included in the messianic hopes of Israel. The early church adopted many of the messianic prophecies into their proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus.

(One of the standards that I use for choosing translations is to see whether the translation uses the word "young woman" or "maiden" in Isaiah 7:14. If so, that translation is more accurate, and is being true to the original Hebrew. If the translation uses the word "virgin" it seems to me that it is emphasizing the translators' theological preference of offering Old Testament precedent for the Christian claims of Jesus' virgin birth. I prefer accuracy over theological preference.)
________

In Luke's Gospel today, Jesus shares the Passover with his disciples. The Passover is a sacred meal which reenacts the remembrance of Israel's liberation from its captivity, slavery, and oppression in Egypt. Jesus interprets the Passover cups of wine as his "new covenant in my blood," and he interprets the bread of the feast as his body, "which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In this manner Jesus interprets his coming death. Like the Passover, his death will accomplish liberation from captivity, slavery, and oppression. Like the Passover, his disciples will recall the past into the present through a sacred meal.

From Easter evening when "he was known in the breaking of the bread," the disciples have reenacted this meal and known the power of Jesus' life.

Lowell
____________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Trust or Strategize?

Thursday, December 14, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 37:1-18 (morning) // 37:19-42 (evening)
Isaiah 7:1-9
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Luke 22:1-13

Martin Buber uses an interesting word to describe the prophet Isaiah's perspective: "theopolitics" -- that is, the attempt to bring Israel in a specific situation so completely under the divine sovereignty that Israel accepts its historical task "to become the beginning of the kingdom of God." Today's passage from Isaiah is a great illustration of one of those specific situations.

The setting is around 750 BCE. Israel and Judah are separate countries. The youthful king Ahaz has just come to the throne of Judah, and he is no match for the political crisis he faces. The power of Assyria is rising, and it threatens the entire region.

The northern kingdom of Israel had avoided invasion by paying high tribute; Syria had done likewise. The payments were unpopular among the rich, because they were the ones taxed for the tribute. An elite group managed a coup to place an Army captain (Pekah) on the throne of Israel. He joined with a traditional rivals to try to create an allied army that they hoped might halt the Assyrian advance as they had at the battle of Quarqar (853 BCE). In an effort to force Judah to join their alliance, Kings Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Damascus invaded Judah in an attempt to replace Ahaz with a puppet king of their choosing.

Young Ahaz was in a difficult position. "The heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind," says Isaiah. second-team weeks tells us that in terror Ahaz burned his own son as a sacrificial offering in the Valley of Hinnom. It looked like Ahaz had to choose between accepting defeat at the hands of these invaders or appealing for outside help, probably from Assyria.

As Ahaz is inspecting the city's water supply in anticipation of a siege, Isaiah confronts him, accompanied by the prophet's young son Shear-jashub ("a remnant shall return"). Isaiah's message was simple: trust in God, be quiet, be calm. Underneath Isaiah's advice is his attitude of "theopolitics." Isaiah tells Ahaz that Pekah and Rezin are nothing -- "two smoldering stumps of firebrands." Isaiah was figuring that God would take care of Israel, and Assyria would take care of Pekah and Rezin's revolution. Isaiah closes with a play on words: "If you do not stand firm in faith (ta'aminu), you shall not stand at all (te'amenu)." Scholar Bernhard Anderson paraphrases: "Abandon human alliance, exclaims Isaiah, and place your reliance on Yahweh, whose sovereign will controls in human affairs!" The name of his son implies in this context that if Pekah and Rezin invade, they will be so unsuccessful that only a remnant of their armies will return.

Ahaz was unable to believe Isaiah and to trust God. Tomorrow we will see another "sign" that Isaiah will offer the king while he and his advisers are strategizing.

Trust God, be quiet, be calm. Or strategize. It is an eternal dilemma.

Lowell
____________________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Trust or Strategize?

Thursday, December 14, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 37:1-18 (morning) // 37:19-42 (evening)
Isaiah 7:1-9
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Luke 22:1-13

Martin Buber uses an interesting word to describe the prophet Isaiah's perspective: "theopolitics" -- that is, the attempt to bring Israel in a specific situation so completely under the divine sovereignty that Israel accepts its historical task "to become the beginning of the kingdom of God." Today's passage from Isaiah is a great illustration of one of those specific situations.

The setting is around 750 BCE. Israel and Judah are separate countries. The youthful king Ahaz has just come to the throne of Judah, and he is no match for the political crisis he faces. The power of Assyria is rising, and it threatens the entire region.

The northern kingdom of Israel had avoided invasion by paying high tribute; Syria had done likewise. The payments were unpopular among the rich, because they were the ones taxed for the tribute. An elite group managed a coup to place an Army captain (Pekah) on the throne of Israel. He joined with a traditional rivals to try to create an allied army that they hoped might halt the Assyrian advance as they had at the battle of Quarqar (853 BCE). In an effort to force Judah to join their alliance, Kings Pekah of Israel and Rezin of Damascus invaded Judah in an attempt to replace Ahaz with a puppet king of their choosing.

Young Ahaz was in a difficult position. "The heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind," says Isaiah. second-team weeks tells us that in terror Ahaz burned his own son as a sacrificial offering in the Valley of Hinnom. It looked like Ahaz had to choose between accepting defeat at the hands of these invaders or appealing for outside help, probably from Assyria.

As Ahaz is inspecting the city's water supply in anticipation of a siege, Isaiah confronts him, accompanied by the prophet's young son Shear-jashub ("a remnant shall return"). Isaiah's message was simple: trust in God, be quiet, be calm. Underneath Isaiah's advice is his attitude of "theopolitics." Isaiah tells Ahaz that Pekah and Rezin are nothing -- "two smoldering stumps of firebrands." Isaiah was figuring that God would take care of Israel, and Assyria would take care of Pekah and Rezin's revolution. Isaiah closes with a play on words: "If you do not stand firm in faith (ta'aminu), you shall not stand at all (te'amenu)." Scholar Bernhard Anderson paraphrases: "Abandon human alliance, exclaims Isaiah, and place your reliance on Yahweh, whose sovereign will controls in human affairs!" The name of his son implies in this context that if Pekah and Rezin invade, they will be so unsuccessful that only a remnant of their armies will return.

Ahaz was unable to believe Isaiah and to trust God. Tomorrow we will see another "sign" that Isaiah will offer the king while he and his advisers are strategizing.

Trust God, be quiet, be calm. Or strategize. It is an eternal dilemma.

Lowell
____________________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Throwing the First Stone

Wednesday, December 13, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 38 (morning) // 119:25-48 (evening)
Isaiah 6:1-13
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
John 7:53 - 8:11

Scholars regard the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery as one of the authentic stories about Jesus, but not a story that was in John's Gospel originally. It fits much better at this point in Luke's narrative, which is why we jumped over to John 8 today, away from our continuous reading in Luke.

His challengers intend to place Jesus in a dilemma. According to the law of the Torah (Leviticus and Deuteronomy) both guilty parties to adultery are to be put to death. In this confrontation, only the guilty woman is presented, having been "caught in the very act of committing adultery." This is potentially a lose-lose situation for Jesus. To overlook the sin would be to violate the biblical commandments. But such a judgment would probably be unpopular among the people from whom Jesus draws most of his support. His response is full of wisdom and compassion: "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

I've wondered about our usual way of interpreting this from a modern perspective. It is very natural for us to assume that no one is perfect, everyone is a sinner. It was not so among observant Jews in Jesus's day. The goal of religious practice was to follow the law so carefully that one would not sin, an achievable goal. In that context, it might be surprising that no observant, righteous, law-abiding person that day would defend the traditions and follow the commandments by throwing the first stone. It says that they went away, "one by one, beginning with the elders."

I have imagined a scenario in which this crowd, hearing Jesus's challenge, turned to look at the leading elder in this group, knowing him to be righteous and upright, waiting for his act to defend the law against this sinner. His inability to act becomes his public admission of guilt for a similar sin that had weighed on his conscience for many decades. In empathy he exposes his secret. He is simultaneously shamed and healed, and saves the woman from her fate. In my scenario, I've have Jesus coming to him to draw him into the fellowship of compassion and forgiveness that characterizes Jesus's movement. The elder's healing then becomes the catalyst for a new way of being in community among those righteous people who brought the woman to Jesus in the first place. I once tried to write this is a short story, but it didn't work especially well.

Another place for some imaginative thought. What did Jesus write in the sand?

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Justice and Righteousness

Tuesday, December 12, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 26, 28 (morning) // 36, 39 (evening)
Isaiah 5:13-17, 24-25
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Luke 21:29-38

"But the Lord of hosts is exalted by justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16)

As I read this brief verse, it reminded me how struck I am by the repetition of this theme throughout scripture, particularly in the prophets. The measure of a good life and a right relationship with God is consistently marked by two things: 1. the presence of justice in social, political, and economic affairs; and 2. the disposition of our hearts manifested in faithfulness of prayer, worship, and morality. Justice and Righteousness.

So often it seems the church is more comfortable talking about the call to righteousness than the call to justice. In most churches, including our own, we expect to hear about how we pray, how we worship, and how we treat other people ethically, and we easily engage in conversation about those matters.

Engaging the call to justice raises more anxieties. Many Christians see commentary on social issues, politics or economics to be off-limits in the church, especially during worship. Maybe that is because these conversations feel more threatening to us. Maybe it is because there is such genuine disagreement about what is just that constructive conversation is difficult.

What is clear in the scripture record is that both justice and righteousness are major concerns.

I don't want to leave this reflection without spending a little time on the lovely passage from 1st Thessalonians. Several phrases from this section are used in one of my favorite blessings -- "Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all persons; love and serve the Lord rejoicing in the power the Spirit." I noticed that the new Bishop of California adds a justice oriented phrase to his version of this scriptural blessing: "be patient with all but make no peace with oppression."

One passage in particular from today's reading is a good one to memorize and take to heart. It's a pretty good mission or goals statement: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

The brief verse 17 "pray without ceasing" has inspired the practice of the Jesus Prayer, breath prayers, and other mantras. The invocation to "give thanks in all circumstances" echoes the call from the sursum corda -- "It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.."

These are strong foundational sentiments to ground us in a life of righteousness and justice. That is the call God gives us from scripture.

Lowell
______________________

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

Monday, December 11, 2006

Words of Judgment

Monday, December 11, 2006 -- Week of Advent 2, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 25 (morning) // 9, 15 (evening)
Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:20-28

Today's scripture is full of foreboding, judgment, and woe.

Isaiah speaks judgment to the comfortable, powerful, and wealthy. He condemns their love of entertainment and drink. He condemns their large houses and land holdings. He condemns their competitive and greedy business practices. He condemns their dishonesty and their piety. Isaiah predicts that God will judge and punish because of the deeds of these powerful people.

Paul also speaks with anticipation of an end time. This is one of his early letters, and it captures the eager expectation of the return of Christ. Paul calls his congregation to vigilance and sobriety, grounded in the virtues of faith, hope and love.

In Luke's writing, Jesus uses many of the phrases and warnings from the ancient prophets to comment on the present time. Scholars think that it is likely that Jesus expected an imminent apocalyptic, decisive event of God. Several of the gospel writers saw the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple in 70 BCE as the fulfillment of Jesus's warnings.

Underneath all of these dire passages is an ultimate faith in the providential justice of God. God will right all wrongs and bring judgment to wrongdoers. The consistent advice is for God's people to remain faithful and vigilant. We are to live trusting in the values of God even when we see injustice triumph and violence threaten. Beyond all of the woe, there is deliverance.

The other side of that coin is the message to the wealthy, powerful, and arrogant. Beware! God is not going to put up with your stuff forever.
_____________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Friday, December 08, 2006

The small stuff

Friday, December 8, 2006 -- Week of Advent 1, Year 1

"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. 936)
Psalms 16, 17 (morning) // 22 (evening)
Isaiah 3:8-15
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Luke 20:41 - 21:4

There is a smallness of scale in so much of the scripture. Underneath the backdrop of the great Roman Empire and Caesar, God intervenes on behalf of the whole world through a peasant from Galilee. In the midst of the conflicts between great empires like Egypt, Assyria, Persia, and Rome, God chooses a home and people in the modest place of Israel, Mount Zion, and Jerusalem.

Jesus finds himself in a dispute with the ruling party of Sadducees. The conversation does not go well. Jesus turns to his little group of followers and tells them to be wary of these important people. What they are up to is often unjust, and they are under God's judgment.

Then Jesus sees a sign of God's Kingdom. It is a poor widow. She humbly places two small copper coins in the Temple treasury. Her act is invisible, especially in the context of the ostentatious offerings that the wealthy or presenting at the same time. "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them." A great Gospel hymn picks up the same theme poetically -- "His eye is on the sparrow."

Paul's letter that we read today is to the small, modest, and relatively poor congregation in Thessaloniki. His feelings toward them are especially warm. There generosity toward his project of raising money for the Christians in Israel is exemplary. He reminds them to keep living the way they are: being faithful to their promises, especially through marital fidelity; loving their brothers and sisters; and aspiring "to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands." Five centuries later St. Benedict will capture the spirit of humble, faithful living within community in his Rule, which will become a foundation for authentic Christian spirituality.

It is so easy for us to become distracted by celebrity and power, but that is not where God usually does the important work. These scriptures invite us to change our perspective. Look keenly toward the poor, the modest, the humble, and the marginal. That's probably where God's business is happening.

Lowell
_________________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Pride & Humility

Thursday, December 7, 2006 -- Week of Advent 1, Year 1 (Ambrose of Milan)

"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. 936)
Psalms 18:1-20 (morning) // 18:21-50 (evening)
Isaiah 2:12-22
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Luke 20:27-40

Isaiah continues his oracle about pride. He uses various images from the natural world -- great trees and called mountains -- as well as images of human pride -- high towers, fortifications, great ships. For the prophet there is no place for pride. Only God is to be exalted.

The argument in Luke between Jesus and the Sadducees is a pride-driven debate. The Sadducees propose a scenario to ridicule the theological notion of resurrection. Jesus answers their argument, but as far as we can tell, no minds were changed. When too much pride is involved, minds tend to be closed.

Today is the feast of Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan. He was chosen Bishop when he tried to calm a riotous crowd and to mediate between rival Christian parties. Suddenly both sides declared Ambrose as their Bishop. He was quickly baptized and ordained Bishop on this day in 373.

One of our hymns which is attributed to him makes a good meditation for this Advent morning. It is another way to express Isaiah's theme of human humility and Godly honor:

O splendor of God's glory bright,
O thou that bringest light from light,
O Light of Light, light's living spring,
O Day, all days illumining.

O thou true Sun of heavenly love,
pour down thy radiance from above;
the Spirit's sanctifying beam
upon our earthly senses streams.

With prayer the Father we implore;
O Father, glorious evermore,
we plead with thee for grace and power
to conquer in temptation's hour,

to guide what e'er we nobly do,
with love all envy to subdue,
to give us grace our wrongs to bear,
to make ill fortune turn to fair.

All laud to God the Father be;
all praise, eternal Son, to thee;
all glory to the Spirit raise
in equal and unending praise.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Old New Questions

(I've learned how to use voice activated software to limit my typing and protect my painful wrist. I'm glad to get back to writing Morning Reflections.)

Wednesday, December 6, 2006 -- Week of Advent 1, Year 1 (St. Nicholas)

"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. 936)
Psalms 119: 1-24 (morning) // 12, 13, 14 (evening)
Isaiah 2:1-11
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Luke 20:19-26

Scripture themes often reflect on contemporary tensions. Some issues are timeless. Today we have reflections on some of the difficulties of remaining spiritually grounded while living in a political and economic world.

Isaiah has a vision of a great city which brings forth instruction from God to establish justice throughout the world. It is a city of peace -- "they shall meet their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

Sadly Isaiah contrasts his vision for the great city and its reality. Instead of attending to its spiritual foundations, this city has pursued commercial prosperity and military power. It is a city of pride not humility. God works to bring down pride.

In our Gospel account, we see a different kind of religious-political conflict. The established religious authorities who are in collusion with the political establishment seek to trap Jesus because he has been critical of their spiritual compromises. "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the Emperor, or not?" Jesus parries their attack. The coin of commerce bears on it the image of the Emperor. Such a representation violates the Biblical commandment about graven images. The fact that these religious leaders have one of these coins in their possession is an indictment of them. As if to dismiss them Jesus says, "Then give to the Emperor the things that are the Emperor's." But the punchline preserves the universal dominion reserved to God alone: "(Give) to God the things that are God's."

Isaiah and Jesus know that political and economic justice is dependent upon foundations of spiritual and religious faithfulness. It is a question of priorities. Will business and power come first as religion serves them with comforting piety? Or will spiritual commitment have priority and shape the exercise of power and the stewardship of money? It is a question as powerful today as it was 2000 and 2500 years ago in the days of Jesus and Isaiah.

Lowell
________________________________________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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