Thursday, November 30, 2006

No Morning Reflections for a week or so

I hurt my wrist in a small accident, and I've had some nagging tendinitis for over a month now. My doctor advises me to rest it as much as I can to let the swelling and irritation heal.

I'm going to limit my typing for about a week and see if that does the trick. I'll resume Morning Reflections as soon as the wrist pain subsides.

Lowell
________________


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

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Chosen Blessings

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 -- Week of Proper 29

"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. 995)
Psalms 119:145-176 (morning) // 128, 129, 130 (evening)
Zechariah 12:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14
Luke 19:1-10

I like "The Access Bible." I use it for my daily reading. The Introduction to the letter to the Ephesians caught my attention today. Here's part of the commentary.

"[Ephesians] reads like a liturgy about the powerful and beneficent love of God in bringing Jews and gentiles into one body and in exalting that body to a cosmic level. Praise and thanksgiving celebrate God's predetermined plan of love in raising Christ from the dead, in placing him over all things, in sealing the church with the Holy Spirit, and in making Christ the head of the universal church, his body."

The opening verses of chapter one are a rich praise to God. They sound with particular grace if you imagine them being spoken with great spirit, spoken aloud by a priest or liturgical reader. It has a creedal quality. Blessed be God who has blessed us, chosen us and lavished goodness upon us as God's children in Christ.

Jesus also extends the benefits of a child's inheritance, reaching out to the rich tax collector Zacchaeus. (In the previous chapter we read how difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.) By inviting himself to eat a Zacchaeus' house, Jesus is making a public pronouncement of acceptance and relationship with Zacchaeus. Such meals were a serious commitment in Jewish culture. People who were serious about their religious practice were very careful never to share a meal with someone of compromised integrity or doubtful religious observance. Jesus' meal with a public sinner was scandalous.

Zacchaeus responds to Jesus' generous acceptance with a free, open generosity. His willingness to pay back four times what he has embezzled exceeds the demand of the Torah. Jesus announces Zacchaeus' salvation, "because he too is a son of Abraham." Blessed be God who has blessed Zacchaeus, and chosen him and lavished goodness upon him as God's child.

It is worth the time to re-read the passage from Ephesians, and let it speak personally to us. Now that God in Christ has so richly blessed us, how shall we respond in generosity and grace toward a world of Zachaeuses.

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, November 28, 2006

Signs of Times

Tuesday, November 28, 2007 -- Week of Proper 29 (Kamehameha and Emma)

"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. 995)
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123 (morning) // 124, 125, 126, [127] (evening)
Zechariah 11:4-17
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Luke 18:31-43

In Luke's passage, Jesus tells his inner circle that their trip to Jerusalem will accomplish "everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets." But then he annotates what that will be. It is (for the most part) bad stuff -- being handed over to Gentiles, mistreated, killed, and raised. In a fascinating sentence, the writer says in three different ways -- they didn't understand.

They probably were thinking about other things that the prophets wrote about the expected One. The prophets wrote a lot about a triumphant leader who would defeat Israel's enemies, restore justice and peace, and reestablish Israel as preeminent among the nations. What about those things that were written about the Son of Man? They can't see what Jesus is talking about.

Then a blind man cries out from the side of the road, calling Jesus by the royal title, "Son of David." Jesus restores his sight -- fulfilling a messianic prophecy -- and the blind man sees.

The blind man sees; the disciples are blind.

Zechariah satirizes the shepherds, the leaders of Judah. They are corrupt. They are not shepherds, they are sheep merchants, buying and selling and killing the flock with no pity upon them. So the prophet contends with these corrupt, greedy leaders. He seeks to bring Favor and Unity. But his reform is unsuccessful. He is redeemed by dirty money that he throws into the Temple treasury, symbolizing its corruption too. A new shepherd is coming, "who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs."

Things are going from bad to worse.

The four psalms (I'm reading the evening psalms in this cycle) bounce around. Psalm 124 declares relief that God has rescued them from grave danger. Psalm 125 confidently asserts a state of security and justice. Psalm 126 rejoices over God's deliverance of the people from exile even while asking for help in the continued restoration. And Psalm 127 places all trust in God and family.

Things are going to be okay.

Finally Paul uses the image of building a home or Temple as a way to speak to his churches. Paul laid a good foundation, Jesus Christ. Each member now contributes to the building. The quality of the work will be disclosed. Will it hold up under fire? Don't think too much of yourselves, Paul warns. Or of your leaders. All things are yours, but only through Christ. Life, death, past, present -- "all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."

Work with careful diligence; all is well.

I like these "mixed messages." They seem to reflect reality.

Sometimes when we think we know, we're really blind, and enlightenment comes from the unexpected. There is so much that is corrupt and likely to get worse. Yet things are ultimately in God's hands and will be okay. Work hard. All is well.

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

Monday, November 27, 2006

Attached

Monday, November 27, 2006 -- Week of Proper 29

"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. 995)
Psalm 106:1-18 (morning) // 106:19-48 (evening)
Zechariah 10:1-12
Galatians 1:1-10
Luke 18:15-30

Jesus tells the rich ruler, "Sell all you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." He can't do it.

Another of Jesus' sayings popped in my mind. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Yesterday in our 10:00 class, our Tibetan friend Geshe spoke of suffering being something in our minds. It comes from attachment. We have certain desires and expectations, and we become attached to them. If our desires and expectations are not met, we suffer because of our attachments.

All is impermanent, said Geshe. Nothing will last. Why be attached to it?

Jesus invites the rich man to let go of his attachment to his wealth and to have treasure in heaven. Then Jesus invites him into the company of disciples with the same words he has used for Andrew, Peter, James and John. "Come, follow me."

One day the rich ruler will become detached from his wealth, either through loss or death. Nothing is permanent.

There's an old saying that I first heard at Cursillo. "If your free thoughts, your time, and your money were a comet, and you were attached to its tail, where would it take you?

"That is your God."
___________________

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, November 24, 2006

Persevere

Friday, November 24, 2006 -- Week of Proper 28

"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. 993)
Psalm 102 (morning) // 107:1-32 (evening)
Malachi 3:1-12
James 5:7-12
Luke 18:1-8


There is a theme that appears in all of our readings today. (That's pretty unusual.) Trust in God with patient perseverance, for God will respond.

Psalm 107 reminds Israel of the many ways that God has acted to save. When they wandered without home or food, he guided and fed them. When they were oppressed and imprisoned, God freed them. When they were suffering the consequences of their foolishness, God healed them. When they were in peril on the sea, God stilled the storm. Have faith. God will help.

Malachi tells those who are fed up with continuing injustice -- the wicked are the ones who seem to prosper -- God's messenger is coming. He will purify the unfaithful worship. Malachi lists those he will deal with: sorcerers; adulterers; those who lie; and those who oppress hired workers, widows, orphans, or aliens. (Once again care for the alien is a Biblical mandate. Politicians pay attention!) God's messenger will right these wrongs, says Malachi.

One more thing, says the prophet. Another form of trusting God. If you want God's blessing, don't cheat God. "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, ...and thus put me to the test...; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing."

James offers a beautiful image. Be patient like a farmer. God is coming as surely as the hidden crop is growing to harvest. Remember the prophets, especially Job. Endure suffering. God is "compassionate and merciful." Live simply. "Yes." "No." Trust.

Luke's parable: Keep praying. (We're back to the Psalm) Jesus uses the illustration of a corrupt judge who had respect for nothing. Yet a widow kept bothering him until he gave her justice. How much more will the good God give justice to you. Continue to pray and to seek God. Persevere. God will respond.

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, November 23, 2006

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 23, 2006 -- Week of Proper 28 (Thanksgiving 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
either Thursday of proper 29 (p. 993)
Psalm 105:1-22 (morning) // 105:23-45 (evening)
Malachi 2:1-16
James 4:13 - 5:6
Luke 17:20-37

or Thanksgiving Day (p. 1000)
Morning Prayer: Psalm 147, Deuteronomy 26:1-11, John 6:26-35
Evening Prayer: Psalm 145, Joel 2:21-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

(I used the readings for Thanksgiving Day)

Our text from Deuteronomy gives instruction for the first harvest of the people who have left Egypt to travel to the Promised Land. They are to take a tithe of the first fruits of the produce and bring them to the priest as a sign of thanksgiving. "Then you, together with the Levites (priests) and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house." Because Israel remembers what it was like to be an alien in Egypt, they promise not be treat the aliens in their land as they were treated. The text goes on to instruct that every third year, the tithe be given to the poor.

The story is not unlike the roots of our tradition of Thanksgiving, when in gratitude for the harvest of that first year in 1621, the Pilgrims gathered with the much more numerous Indians with Massasoit and celebrated with a great feast. Notice the inclusion of "the alien" in both of these stories. That seems an important commentary in this time of anxiety and hostility toward the aliens in our land.

It is natural to connect these two traditions of thankful feasts with the characteristic form of worship for Christians -- the Eucharistic feast. (The word "Eucharist" is Greek for "Thanksgiving. Every Eucharist is our Thanksgiving feast.) John's gospel anticipates this sacred meal with a dialog about the "food that endures for eternal life," given by Jesus -- "the true bread from heaven." "I am the bread of life."

When we begin each of our Eucharistic Prayers, the presider invites the congregation to "Lift up your hearts." We respond, "We lift them to the Lord." Then the presider announces what we shall do: "Let us give thanks unto our Lord God." We give our consent to share in the prayer of Great Thanksgiving. The the presider begins by saying, "it is right, and a good and joyful thing / it is very meet, right and our bounden duty, at all times and in all places to give thanks to you, Father Almighty."

Thanksgiving is the characteristic stance of Christianity. It can be a challenge to give thanks at all times and in all places. Some times and places provoke resentment or fear. But the resurrection of Jesus announces that God is always present in all times and in all places, especially the ones that look like crucifixion, and God is always bringing new life out of death, the new harvest out of the old seed.

Our yearly Thanksgiving Day reminds us of a story that invites our grateful response. Our weekly Eucharist reminds us of the story that invites our grateful response.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

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, November 21, 2006

The way of discipline

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 -- Week of Proper 28

"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. 993)
Psalm 97, 99, [100] (morning) // 94, [95] (evening)
Habakkuk 3:1-10 (11-15) 16-18
James 3:1-12
Luke 17:1-10

There is a deep humility, acceptance and obedience at the heart of much of the scripture. Today we hear three themes from different streams of that invitation to discipline.

Jesus widens the range of responsibility by focusing today less on occasions when we may stumble and more on the circumstances that may provoke another to stumble. Woe to us if we do something that entices another to wrong. It is a terrible violation of community. Yet, if another wrongs us, we are told to confront the other and forgive repeatedly. This high ethic of Jesus is so tough that the disciples cry out, "Increase our faith."

Jesus doesn't bite. It's not that hard, he insists. It only takes a little trust in God. And when you have successfully accomplished this high ethic, don't get puffed up. You've only done what you were supposed to.

James addresses the discipline of the tongue. The tongue is small, but it has a great effect, like a small rudder that directs a large ship. How unnatural the tongue can be. No spring produces both fresh and brackish water. No fig tree yields olives. But from the same mouth we can bless God and curse our fellow human beings made in God's image. Put a bridle on your tongue and control it.

The final hymn from Habakkuk imagines the appearance of God to conquer chaos and establish order. It is spoken in the context of a time when the corrupt leaders of Judah have been punished by God's sending the conquering army of Chaldeans, who prove to be as bad as the ones they replaced. Habakkuk lives in a time of evil, injustice and disillusion.

His closing words speak of the deep trust of faith:

"Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold,
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and makes me tread upon the heights."

The call is to mature responsibility and trust. Disciplining one's self so as not to cause harm, forgiving others who may harm you, and trusting God deeply in times of trouble. Humility, acceptance, and obedience. Such a spirit can make you feel like a deer leaping great heights, jumping over troubles with a deep sense of joy.

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

Monday, November 20, 2006

Karma

Monday, November 20, 2006 -- Week of Proper 28 (Edmond of East Anglia)

"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. 993)
Psalm 89:1-18 (morning) // 89:19-52 (evening)
Habakkuk 2:1-4, 9-20
James 2:14-26
Luke 16:19-31

I have been interested in listening to our Buddhist friend Geshe teaching the philosophy that he follows as a Tibetan monk. He speaks with profound faith about karma -- the belief that each being experiences future consequences for their present actions. The affirmation that justice will occur -- whether attributed to God or to universal principles -- is present in many religious systems. Our readings today bring Hebrew and Christian voices into that conversation.

The second half of Psalm 89 remembers the promise of God to the faithful ruler David. "I will establish his line for ever and his throne as the days of heaven." Even if "his children forsake my law," God promises and unbreakable oath to protect David's lineage.

That promise of God is broken. "But you have cast off and rejected your anointed; ...you have broken your covenant with your servant, defiled his crown, and hurled it to the ground." The nation has been conquered. The Psalmist reminds God how short human life is and asks God to fulfill the old promise. He hurls his anguish toward a hidden God, and closes: "Blessed be the Lord for evermore! Amen, I say, Amen."

His voice finds echo in Habakkuk, who in chapter 1 complains first about the corruption of Judah, which God punishes through the armies of the invading Chaldeans. Then Habakkuk complains that the Chaldeans are evil themselves. Standing watch, Habakkuk sees an answer from God. God will bring justice. "If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay." He speaks five proverbs about how injustice is reversed -- power, greed, arrogance, falsity will be dealt with. Habakkuk waits.

James teaches a way of exercising faith (or building good karma). What you say you believe is meaningless, he says, without action. Live out your faith through good works.

Finally, we have a Christian version of karma -- the reversal of fates between the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man enjoyed his good things during his lifetime while Lazarus suffered in poverty at his gates. In the next life Lazarus is comforted at Abraham's bosom and the rich man suffers agony in Hades.

Deep in our hearts is a longing for justice. We also know that perfect justices does not happen on earth within our lives. We look for something more, even as we work for something more. "Make justice happen" is one of the great themes of Hebrew and Christian tradition. The other side of that coin adds, "And trust God to bring justice; wait faithfully." Have faith and act faithfully. Act faithfully and have faith.

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, November 17, 2006

Dishonesty Made Good

Friday, November 17, 2006 -- Week of Proper 27 (Hugh of Lincoln)

"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. 993)
Psalm 88 (morning) // 91, 92 (evening)
Joel 2:28 - 3:8
James 1:16-27
Luke 16:1-19

I went back to look at a sermon I did about this parable in 2004. I did a bit of studying to try to make some sense of this strange tale of a master (usually we project the image of God on these master figures), his dishonest manager, and the debtors (merchants). Jesus pictures the corrupt business practices common in the Roman Empire. (the sermon is at http://www.stpaulsfay.org//lg91904.html)

Short version. The master is one of the elite absentee landowners who owned most of the wealth in the Empire. These elites worked through middle-men retainers, their managers -- people who could write and keep accounts. They traded with merchant suppliers (debtors in this story).

Because interest and usury is prohibited in the Bible (you don't hear many sermons about that anymore), there was a workaround for the customary interest rates -- 25% interest for borrowing money; 50% on goods that could spoil or be tampered with. The workaround involved recording one price in the books which included the interest. So if I am an olive oil producer and agree to sell 50 jugs of oil for $10,000, without a word the manager would write 100 jugs of oil for $10,000, smile and have me sign it, burying the interest in the final figure. Then I would pass the manager a substantial gold coin as his bit of "honest graft" for brokering the deal. Managers and merchant suppliers hated each other.

So it's not unusual for merchant/debtors to accuse a manager of dishonesty. This was a dishonest system. When this master accepts the accusations, he has effectively condemned the manager to a slow, painful death. Forced out, he would have to resort to physical labor among the peasants he has been manipulating all these years. A softie with a desk job, he truly is not "strong enough to dig" and no one will welcome him into their homes.

So he gets shrewd. He brings the merchants in, and on each of their accounts marks through the hidden interest. The merchants are delighted and praise the master. When the master sees what has happened, he too thinks shrewdly. This is a creative manager indeed. And now those merchants are in his debt. The master would have made a good profit anyway on the original sales price. And in the future, this shrewd manager will be able to squeeze these merchants even tighter. "An the master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly."

Here is William Herzog's commentary: "The parable began with the usual social scripts: owners distrust managers; peasants hate managers; managers cheat both tenants and owners. But by means of his outrageous actions, the manager manages to reverse all these scripts so that, at the close of the parable, peasants are praising the master, the master commends the manager, and the manager has relieved the burden on the peasants and kept his job."

Out of this sad story of wrong-doing, came something that looks almost like a piece of the kingdom of heaven, because the master had wiped off the debts and relieved the burdens of the debtors. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." It is a glimpse of another order -- one in which forgiveness of debt would be more than a petition in a prayer. A sorry and predictable tale of woe becomes a scene of rejoicing.

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, November 14, 2006

Tough Readings

Tuesday, November 14, 2006 -- Week of Proper 27 (Consecration of Samuel Seabury)

"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. 993)
Psalm 78:1-39 (morning) // 78:40-72 (evening)
Joel 1:15 - 2:2(3-11)
Revelation 19:1-10
Luke 14:25-35

This is one of those days when it is hard to read the Bible.

Joel describes the deadly devastation of the locust plague. All vegetation and stored grain is destroyed. There is nothing for human or animal to eat. The pangs of starvation begin. The situation is bleak, maybe hopeless. Joel says that this is God's judgment. It was God at the head of the army of locusts. This is the meaning of "the Day of the Lord," Joel proclaims.

Our reading in Revelation is a passage of rejoicing. Heaven joins earth in praise. The reason for their joy is the overthrow of Babylon (Rome), "the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication. ...The smoke goes up from her forever and ever." The marriage of the Lamb and the marriage supper is being readied. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it. Until you look at the abominations of Rome. They are the characteristics of Empire -- great wealth, great power, greed and economic exploitation, military adventurism, injustice toward the poor and weak, sexual immorality, obscenities, unfaithfulness, the worship of human power rather than God. More than one person has said that contemporary America shares much with first century Rome.

And Jesus tells his followers to count the cost. "None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

I leave these readings shaken and humbled. I have no way to soften or rationalized. I know my own faith is thin and superficial. I want my nice life and my comforts. "Practice detachment" is more theory than real for me. I wonder. Do I belong more to the Empire than to the Kingdom?

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

Monday, November 13, 2006

When facing catastrophe

Friday, November 13, 2006 -- Week of Proper 27

"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. 993)
Psalm 80 (morning) // 77, 79 (evening)
Joel 1:1-13
Revelation 18:15-24
Luke 14:12-24

So many portions of the scriptures lament our helpless and tragic circumstances and beg God to respond. Psalm 77 cries passionately, "My grief is this: the right hand of the Most High has lost its power." The psalmist has been pouring out prayer to God, and nothing has happened. "Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in his anger withheld his compassion." The best the poet can do is remember. "I will remember the works of the Lord, and call to mind your wonders of old time." He thinks about the mighty acts of God from the past and hold on to those memories as faith. That is all he can do in a threatening present.

The circumstances seem even more grievous in Psalm 79. It is written at a time when foreign armies have overthrown Israel and Jerusalem with destructive violence. "They have given the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the air. ...They have shed their blood like water on every side of Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them." In grief, the psalmist can only cry to God for vengeance. "Pour out your wrath upon the heathen who have not known you. ...May the revilings with which they reviled you, O Lord, return seven-fold into their bosoms." Exhausted in his rage, spent in sorrow, the psalmist closes, quietly reclaiming his identity and faith. "For we are you people and the sheep of you pasture; we will give you thanks for ever and show forth your praise from age to age."

Joel mourns a locust plague that he knows will devastate his people. They live in an agricultural society that lives from year to year on its crops. This plague of locusts will produce famine like genocide. His mourning reverberates through the centuries. Eventually Joel will call his people to worship, ask them to repent and to seek God's forgiveness. Eventually he will speak a word of hope and restoration.

Reading Revelation is like looking through the other side of the mirror. The destruction is to Rome. For John, this devastation is only a cause for rejoicing. This great city has been the cause of greed, immorality and great suffering. John can only imagine satisfaction in its destruction. I find his glee disturbing. Yet I know that the consequences of some injustices are often catastrophic.

Finally we hear from Jesus. He too describes a catastrophe. The banquet feast is prepared, and everyone invited it too preoccupied to attend -- business and family issues... Jesus has a novel solution. The uninvited are welcomed. The unclean who would be judged by the Biblical purity code -- the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame -- are not only invited and brought to the feast, but the master tell his servants to "compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled."

How do we respond in the presence of catastrophe? Sometimes we keep our faith only through memory. Sometimes we rage until we are spent. Sometimes we feel judgment, we change our direction and hope for a new future. Sometimes we enjoy another's comeuppance. Occasionally we are creative enough to take a catastrophe and turn it into a new opportunity to expand grace.

Lowell
_______________________

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

Friday, November 10, 2006

Whores of Babylon

Thursday, November 9, 2006 -- Week of Proper 26 -- (Leo the Great)

"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. 991)
Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) // 73 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 50:1, 11-24 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 17:1-18
Luke 13:31-35

When I read some of these passages today, they sound like the translated words of Osama ben Laden and others who hate what they see as the decadent culture of the U.S. and the West. They decry our materialism, our sexual immorality and obscenities, our ostentatious wealth, our oppressive power. They write of us things like we read in Psalm 73 and Revelation 17.

In the scripture there is a strong tradition of distrust toward wealth in the service of power. Though he recognizes his resentment is a moral trap, the bitter descriptions from the writer of Psalm 73 cross the centuries:

3 Because I envied the proud *
and saw the prosperity of the wicked:
4 For they suffer no pain, *
and their bodies are sleek and sound;
5 In the misfortunes of others they have no share; *
they are not afflicted as others are;
6 Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace *
and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.
7 Their iniquity comes from gross minds, *
and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.
8 They scoff and speak maliciously; *
out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, *
and their evil speech runs through the world.
10 And so the people turn to them *
and find in them no fault.

It is only when he goes into worship does the psalmist find comfort. There he realizes that these wealthy and powerful who do ill will come eventually to a bad end. "Oh, how suddenly to they come to destruction."

In Revelation 17 the angel shows John the destruction of the oppressive Empire. The woman "clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication" is the whore of Babylon, an adaptable metaphor that has been used of many powers. There is imagery suggestive of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem. There are allusions to the succession of Emperors.

But it is the Lamb who conquers. The Lamb conquers without a war. The sudden cry is "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great" (18:2) though no battle has been described. The death of Jesus is the moment of victory.

We hear Jesus speaking in Luke: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"

It is the gentle Lamb who conquers the oppression of power in service of wealth.

These readings seem especially appropriate for the feast of Leo the Great. Leo led the church of Rome as the Empire dissolved into shambles. As Pope he negotiated with Attila the Hun to avoid Rome's sack. Later his intercessions moderated the pillage of Genseric and the Vandals. In Leo's lifetime, all of the destructive visions of John were poured out upon Rome, the whore of Babylon. Ironically, by then Rome was entirely a Christian city.

Lowell
____________________


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go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Growing the Kingdom

Thursday, November 9, 2006 -- Week of Proper 26

"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. 991)
Psalm 70, 71 (morning) // 74 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 44:1-15 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30

The exhortations of Luke 13 are poignant. Jesus offers a quiet, hidden metaphor for the work of the kingdom of God. It is like a small seed. Imagine it planted in your heart (the garden). There it grows, silently nurtured. It becomes a strong place of refuge, a home for the small (the birds of the air).

Then he uses the image of something unclean, yeast. (remember "beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, their hypocrisy") The kingdom is like yeast that is mixed into flour. So ordinary. Imperceptible. The yeast gives the bread life so that it will bubble and rise. It will become delicious.

This hidden, quiet, modest kingdom is present, active and growing. Traditionally the life of the kingdom is nurtured in things like what is happening now -- the prayer of the morning hours; the conversation with scripture. "Strive" says Jesus. Be disciplined. Let these values of the kingdom take root and grow within you. Let them be mixed throughout your spirit until they bubble to life.

Without that quiet growth and formation, you might be like those who had some intimate companionship with God ("we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets"), but the life did not take root and grow. Do not be presumptuous. Strangers will come from far away who live in this spirit. "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

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, November 08, 2006

Nature and Us

Wednesday, November 8 -- Week of Proper 26

"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. 991)
Psalm 72 (morning) // 119:73-96 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 43:23-33 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17

Within the reading today from Ben Sira is a notion that has contemporary resonance. Through most of chapter 43 the scribe sounds like a nature poet or an environmental mystic. The awe and beauty of creation reveals the glory of God.

Verse 26 is particularly interesting: "Because of [God] each of his messengers succeeds, and by his word all things hold together." The word messenger is the same word that is often translated "angel." So, the sun, moon, and stars; the snow, clouds, and storm; the frost and frozen water; the mountains and wilderness; the ocean with its islands and sea-monsters -- all are God's messengers. Each part of creation tells us something of the creator. All of the earth and the universe is in relationship. There is an ultimate coherence in all things, and it is God's active word which holds everything together.

I think of the mystical sounding descriptions of reality that we hear from scientists. Physicists tell us that every portion of matter exercises some kind of field force on everything other field. Environmental scientists tell us that creation is one living organism of interrelated complexity. Life is held together by the all. We are stardust evolved into consciousness.

Such a vision helps interpret some of the images of today's reading from Revelation. Angels again are present, but these messengers of God are pouring out bowls of wrath. "It is what they deserve" is the message of the angel of the waters. The plagues are natural and environmental ones. They are the consequences of the arrogant and abusive behavior of the beastly empire. Within creation is a kind of intrinsic divine justice. Earth suffers the inevitable consequences of wrong action.

I read these verses and see the images of Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." I see the glaciers melting and the waters of Katrina flooding. I see the polluted waters and the scourge of HIV/AIDS. All things hold together, and our human actions provoke natural consequences. Chaos theory shows us how even small actions can have large results over time.

The earth is alive and filled with the presence of God. We live in an intimate relationship with all that is within this divine life. Will we live responsibly or wantonly? Everything will be affected by our actions.

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, November 07, 2006

Tuesday, November 7, 2006 -- Week of Proper 26 (Willibrord)
"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. 991)
Psalm 61, 62 (morning) // 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 43:1-22 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 14:14 - 15:8
Luke 13:1-9
As far as I can tell, there is never a culminating battle in the vision of John's revelation. The death of Jesus is the victory over evil. Today we read of the "wine press" that "was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press, as high as a horse's bridle, for a distance of about 1,600 stadia." The latter number is symbolic of the whole world. Four is the number of the created order and ten is the number for wholeness or totality. 4x4 and 10x10 -- This bloody verse is a symbolic way of saying that it is the blood of Christ which covers the whole earth. It is a Eucharistic proclamation. The blood is Christ's, not some enemy's.
As bloody and violent as the images in Revelation are, it is Christ the Lamb who is the slain victor. The beast is fallen. Yet there is no battle. Yes, there are terrible consequences for evil and oppression, but these seem to be woven into the very fabric of the oppression itself. Great cities collapse. God doesn't have to do anything. They fall of their own greed and corruption. Truth eventually triumphs. The visionary prays, may today be the day of truth.
But Luke reminds us, that justice is not linear. The innocent sometimes suffer; the righteous sometimes are defeated and oppressed. Even terrible accidents that have no explanation happen to the good and the innocent. Sometimes justice is delayed. We hope for amendment of life. The gardener asks: Let the barren fig tree alone for one more year. Apply manure. "If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down."
Justice may be delayed. It will not be eternally frustrated.
"The peace of God, it is no peace; but strife closed in the sod. Yet let us pray for but one thing. The marvelous peace of God." (William Alexander Percy)
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

Monday, November 06, 2006

The Struggle

Monday, November 6, 2006 -- Week of Proper 26 (William Temple)
"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. 991)
Psalm 56, 57, [58] (morning) // 64, 65 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 38:24-34 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 14:1-13
Luke 12:49-59
Deep within the religious desire is the wish that God would come to right what is wrong in the world, and come quickly. The good, the innocent and the vulnerable too often suffer oppression at the hands of powerful oppressors. The foolish rather than the wise prosper. Those who ignore or abuse the values of God thrive. Oh, that God would reverse the circumstances and bring justice to our world.
Jesus speaks of this fulfillment as an immanent one. Inevitably it will be divisive and conflictive -- fire and division. John imagines a spiritual allegory when those who are spiritually pure (virginal) and who do not lie are the first fruits of God's victory. The forehead is a symbol for the human spirit and worship. On their foreheads they have God's name. They give the whole of their being to God's purposes. They oppose those who give their spirit and loyalty to the symbols of human wealth, power and oppression, those whose foreheads have the mark of that beast.
There is something that these great religious utterances know. A reckoning is coming. We receive the fruits of our living, the consequences of our choices. God is working, and will prevail. God will raise up those who choose God's values and God will confound those who succumb to the greed and oppression of power.
"Hear my voice, O God, when I complain," says the psalmist. "Protect my life from the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the mob of evildoers. ...God will loose an arrow at them, and suddenly they will be wounded. He will make them trip over their tongues, and all who see them will shake their heads. ...The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and put their trust in him, and all who are true of heart will glory." (Ps. 64) "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication..." (Rev. 14:8) God will right wrong. Come quickly, Lord.
Jesus chastises those who can read the weather but can't interpret the deeper issues of "the present time." Persevere. Be brave in goodness. Live with your forehead turned toward God's purposes. The way of willfulness and greed is doomed; the way of willingness and compassion is triumphant.
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, November 03, 2006

Living with Empire

Friday, November 3, 2006 -- Week of Proper 25 (Richard Hooker)
"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. 991)
Psalm 40, 54 (morning) // 51 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 34:1-8, 18-22 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31
Ben Sira is not too impressed with dreams. They are fantasy, he thinks, pay no attention to them. (Kathy and I woke up today each with a portion of an active dream to tell. We'll both pay some attention to them) Ben Sira makes an exception for dreams that are "sent from the Most High." But he doesn't say which ones those are. I'm more interested in dreams than Ben Sira is.
_______________
Today and tomorrow we have the two beasts of Revelation, the beast of the sea and the beast of the land. The beast is the Empire -- its power, wealth and rule. The Empire's economic and political system is comprehensive; the Empire's military power is international. For John, the enemy is the Empire, especially the temptation to succumb to its luring riches and its arrogant powers. In today's reading, John tells the little church that escape or rebellion will not work against such power. Perseverance is the only response. Put your trust in God. The period of evil is only partial.
Many commentators have written extensively about the similarities between the Roman Empire of John's day and the American Empire of our day. The globalization of trade and entertainment, the lure of wealth and greed, the corruption of morals, the arrogance of power and manipulation of religion for the state's end. Some comparisons stick frightfully. Others seem stretched to me.
So many people who live among the world's disenfranchised think of America much as John does. We are the beast. There is plenty of literature the speaks of America in language similar to what John uses of the Empire. Can any of us say we are not lured and complicit in the temptation and consumerism of our culture?
The passage from Luke seems to offer some commentary. Someone asks Jesus to judge on a conflict about material possessions, an inheritance. "Tell my brother to share with me," he asks. Jesus refuses to be distracted by the issue or to weigh in on it in any way. He shows no concern for such things.
"I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear... For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things (read Empire), and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for God's kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell you possessions, and give alms." That's the anti-Empire message of Jesus.
How deeply am I embedded in the life and power of the Empire? Jesus offers a pretty good discernment tool: "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
What do I have "the best" of? What do I spend my money on? There's my heart. Empire or God's reign?
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, November 01, 2006

Wednesday, November 1, 2006 -- Week of Proper 25 -- All Saints 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

Either the readings for Wednesday of Proper 25 (p. 991)
Psalm 119:49-72 (morning) // 49, [53] (evening)
Ecclesiasticus 28:14-26 (found in the Apocrypha; also called Sirach)
Revelation 12:1-6
Luke 11:37-52

Or the readings for All Saints Day (p. 1000)

Morning Prayer:
Psalms 111, 112
2 Esdras 2:42-47 (found in the Apocrypha)
Hebrews 11:32 - 12:2

Evening Prayer:
Psalms 148, 150
Wisdom 5:1-5, 14-16
Revelation 21:1-4, 22 - 22:5

[All Saints Day Eucharist at 10:00 in the chancel at St. Paul's]

(I used that All Saints readings for Morning Prayer today)


2 Esdras is a Christian text dated sometime after the Book of the Revelation, maybe around 150 CE. The vision we read today is not unlike John's vision of Rev. 7. Ezra sees a happy multitude on Mount Zion, and in their midst is "a young man of great stature" who places crowns on their heads and palms in their hands. It is Jesus rewarding those who have confessed him and have now "put off mortal clothing and have put on the immortal."

The author of Hebrews gives us an exhortation to faith, even in times of trial and torture. He commends heroes of the Hebrew tradition -- some who triumphed and some who were tortured and killed. They were faithful to the end even though during their lifetimes they did not see or obtain the promise that we enjoy, the gift and power of the resurrection of Jesus.

His final example is Jesus, "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."

The strength we are given to persevere in hope during times of pain, suffering, and grief is the strength of the resurrection. We join our struggles to those who have gone before and are inspired by their good example. We offer our suffering to God in union with Christ's cross, trusting that God will use our loss as God used the cross of Jesus for the healing of the world. What God does best is resurrection.

Who are those who are heroes for you? Who inspires your best effort, your best faith? When I was struggling to develop a regular habit of prayer, I read how then-President Jimmy Carter made time each day for his Bible study. I thought, if the President of the United States can find time for daily prayer and study, so can I. One of my heroes was the priest of the church of my childhood. He spoke out on controversial things during the racial tensions of that day, and he gently accepted the criticism that came his way from his friends who disagreed with him. I know someone who lived her entire life with severe pain and disfigurement from an accident during her teens. She was one of my favorite teachers.

We all have people who inspire us to face our sufferings, pains and challenges. They are all our saints.

Collect for All Saints' Day :
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
__________

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