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