Responsible Callings

Wednesday, March 7, 2007 -- Week of 2 Lent
(Perpetua and her Companions -- Martyrs at Carthage, 202)

"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. 952)
Psalms 72 (morning) // 119:73-96 (evening)
Jeremiah 3:6-18
Romans 1:28 - 2:11
John 5:1-18

Paul says today that there is a single ethic. He criticizes the religious who presume to occupy a place of privilege because of their faith and then do the very things they condemn in others.

The list of sins that Paul describes in this passage manly describes behaviors that destroys meaningful relationships in families and in society: "wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice,... envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness," gossip, slander, God-hating, insolence, haughtiness, boasting, inventing evil, rebellion toward parents, foolishness, faithlessness, being heartless and ruthless. Rough list. Paul says he sees evidence of such behavior among the religious as well as the non-religious and pagan.

Jeremiah is also occupied with a critique of the religious. He uses the metaphor of adultery. He is writing at the turn of the sixth century BCE. Two hundred years ago the faithless wife Israel betrayed her husband God and was cast off, invaded, defeated and sent into exile by Assyria. Jeremiah tells the surviving southern kingdom of Judah that she has learned nothing from Israel's failure, and is behaving in a similar, adulterous manner. Jeremiah speaks a word of hope and reconciliation toward the first wife Israel. He is prophesying judgment for the second wife Judah.

The failures that the prophets like Jeremiah and the apostle Paul articulate have two dimensions. There is the dimension of personal faithfulness and holiness-of-life which is the goal of each believer. There is also the dimension of social justice and compassion which is the goal of corporate life. In both dimensions they commend special attention and care on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. The Biblical writers note with approval of acts of justice and compassion by those who are outside the circle of faith.

We are called to personal holiness and corporate justice. That calling is a single ethic, for believer and non-believer alike. We don't get a pass just because we are Christians. God offers "glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality." (Later Paul will distinguish between ethical calling and salvation, which is a gift freely given, not dependent upon ethical works. In Paul's theology, the gift of salvation motivates spontaneous acts of goodness.)
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A brief word about the healing at the pool of Bethzatha. The man whom Jesus heals might be seen as a metaphor for living in a dependent style. Jesus asks straightforwardly, "Do you want to be made well?" He doesn't say "Yes!" Instead he offers excuses. These sound like tired, well-rehearsed excuses. "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool..." It's someone else's fault. If they would just take care of me. He's been stuck in this state of dependency for thirty-eight years. Sounds like he's used to it by now.

Jesus tells him to "Stand up, take your mat and walk." He walks. Now he will have to take responsibility for himself. Tomorrow he will need to go out and look for a job. Nobody is going to take care of him now that he can walk. I wonder if he lived fully into his new health and responsibility or if he found a way to become dependent again. We don't get to hear that part of the story.

At any rate, the fault-finding literalists overlook Jesus' act of liberation and compassion. All that interests them is that he has violated the Sixth Commandment by doing an act of work -- healing on the sabbath. This religious squabble eventually will turn violent. The religious authorities will charge him as a blasphemer.

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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.