God in our Brokenness

Monday, June 15, 2007 -- Week of Proper 6, Year One
(Bernard Mizeki, 1896)

"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

Podcast: Audio versions of today's and the past week's Morning Reflection may be found at the following address: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 970)
Psalms 80 (morning) 77, [79] (evening)
1 Samuel 1:1-20
Acts 1:1-14
Luke 20:9-19

We begin today the poignant story of the birth of Samuel. This is wonderful literature and fine drama. Hannah is at the center of the story.

That is significant in itself. This is a story with a woman at its heart. In a patriarchal culture, a woman's story is important. We feel the pathos of the family situation, made more complicated by the (to us) unfamiliar context of polygamy. Elkanah loves his wife Hannah, but she is infertile. He has children through his other wife Peninnah. Hannah suffers the scorn of the wifely competition. Her husband's favor and love is simply not enough. She has a place of deep unhappiness within her.

One of the most consistent themes in scripture tells us that God favors those who are out of favor. God saves the outcast, downtrodden and oppressed. God loves the marginal and the underdog. God brings life to the barren. God has good intentions for Hannah.

We will learn later that the holy shrine of Shiloh where Hannah pours out her heart to God is a corrupt and compromised system. Eli the priest is old and powerless to oversee his greedy, privileged sons. They misuse their power and abuse their authority. Yet, despite the impotence of the priestly leadership at the shrine, it is a place filled with the potency of God. We learn today that Hannah will bear a child. Her son will become the model of righteousness and holy leadership.

God comes to us in earthen vessels. The metaphor of incarnation comes to us long before the birth of Jesus. God's heart is turned toward those who are not treated fairly in human ways, toward those who yearn for justice and for a better life. God turns special attention toward those who are needy.

And God can work effectively through cracked and broken vessels. Barren women and corrupt temples. Dysfunctional families and unfaithful priests.

God brings holiness out of unlikely places. God brings new life out of hopelessness. The story of the birth of Samuel is a reminder that God is especially present in the abandoned moments of human existence and always working to bring new life and resurrection despite our dysfunction and corruption.

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.

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