When our hearts accuse us

Monday, April 23, 2007 -- Week of 3 Easter

"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. 960)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Daniel 4:19-27
1 John 3:19 - 4:6
Luke 4:14-30


Two things strike me today particularly.

First, 1 John writes that our hearts may be reassured before God "whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and [God] knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God..."

Gerald May is one of my favorite authors and spiritual directors. He says that in all his experience as a psychiatrist and as a human being, the most pervasive pathology he has seen is the incredible harshness we have toward ourselves. He is convinced it is at the core of so many of our troubles. Some of us are meaner than others, but he says he has yet to meet a person in modern Western culture who was not in some way cruelly self-abusive.

The more cruel we are to ourselves, the more likely we are to be mean to others.
May suggests that if we want a more loving life, we need to be a whole lot gentler toward ourselves.

Here's a technique that might help: You know what tenderness is. Think of something that makes you feel that way -- perhaps being with a loved one who is suffering, or seeing a small child asleep -- whatever calls forth from you a feeling of warmth and tenderness or just simple caring. Feel that feeling. You can do that, almost without trying. It's a very familiar feeling, well known to you. Can you now, just for a moment, feel that way toward yourself? Simply bring a little kindness toward yourself from time to time. (But, for God's sake, do not throw upon yourself the extra burden of having to feel kindly toward yourself.)

God, who is love, "is greater than our hearts, and [God] knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God..."

Well, I've written enough for one Reflection, but I was struck by Jesus' visit to his hometown synagogue. Everyone was fine with his words until he spoke with such generosity toward outsiders. Jesus did no miraculous act for them. Instead he reminded them of Elijah's kindness toward a foreign woman during the drought and Elisha's healing of a Syrian leper. Three illustrations of caring for the foreigner even before taking care of own's own. That's what made the locals angry. I wonder what that says about our priorities -- foreign aid, MDG's, etc.

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.

See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

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We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.