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