Love & Loyalty

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 -- Week of 5 Easter
(Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, 389)

"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. 962)
Psalms 72 (morning) 119:73-96 (evening)
Wisdom 13:1-9
Romans 13:1-14
Luke 8:16-25


Jesus had family problems. Today Luke's Gospel chronicles one of several encounters passed to us from the Evangelists. His mother and brothers could not reach Jesus because of the crowd. When told of the situation, Jesus says, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." His words were culturally shocking to his listeners. Family fidelity and filial responsibility were an essential part of one's identity and standing in the Roman and Jewish world. Jesus expanded the definition of family beyond blood relation. His family values were very different from the culture's.
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Had I been a conventional Anglican priest in the colonies of the late 1700s, I might have preached from Romans 13 trying to discourage the rebellion against England, as many other Anglican priests did in that formative time. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

During the Revolutionary War, most of our clergy were Tories. Part of their ordination vow to the Church of England was a pledge of allegiance to the King of England. They took those vows seriously, and most were faithful to them.

Many of their parishioners were the leaders of the rebellion against what they saw as abuse of authority. The rebels made arguments from natural law and from the scriptural values which encourage freedom and resistance to tyranny. Loyalists quoted Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:13-17, New Testament passages with a positive view of civil authority and an exhortation to obedience.

Contemporary Christians also find themselves with conflicting issues where both sides can find justification from Scripture. How do you know who is right? (I remember seeing an historical marker in London on the residents of Benedict Arnold, the patriot.) We don't always know for sure. Therefore, some humility is in order. In these conflictive situations I tend to ask "Where it is love most manifest?" Romans 13 offers that standard as well. "Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

If there is a conflict between law and love, between fear and love, between control and love -- go with love.
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Wisdom 13:1b -- "they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works"

I buried a man named Bob. He had been emotionally scarred by his early experience of Christianity. He turned his back on a religion of fear and judgment and never looked back. What he knew of Christianity was so traumatizing that he protected himself from any part of it.

But Bob knew God. On weekends he would drive two hours to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There he would sail and fish, living in communion with the mysterious depths of the ocean, the life and vitality of water, wind and sky. There he was at peace.

Bob also knew love. He was a loving husband and he adored his daughters. His love was returned. But they worried about his soul after his unexpected death. He didn't come to church with them. What would happen to him?

I told them that I believe that when Bob met God face to face he saw the origin and ground of all that had touched his soul these many years. He recognized the source of the mystery and beauty that had drawn him to the sea. He experienced the fountainhead of the love he had cherished with his family. I believe that when he met God face to face, he knew he was home. "For from the greatness and beauty of crated things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator." Wisdom 13:5

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.