Tuesday, July 17, 2007 -- Week of Proper 10
(William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania, 1836)

"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

NEW-- Audio Podcasts of today's "Morning Reflection" and those from the past week are available from http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html (go to St. Paul's Home Page stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 974)
Psalms 26, 28 (morning) 36, 39 (evening)
1 Samuel 19:1-18
Acts 12:1-17
Mark 2:1-12


Jesus didn't seem too bothered with the notion of a human being taking divine prerogatives. Over and over when he could have simply healed, he declared the forgiveness of sins. The Christian religion has passed that privilege on through the priesthood. Priests are set aside to proclaim the forgiveness of sins. Elsewhere in the scripture it is said that people marveled that such power had been given to human beings to forgive sins.

There are many instances where Jesus insists that everything that he does in the Father's name is also something that the rest of us can do in the Father's name. In John's gospel he says that "even greater things than these" will be done by regular, ordinary people, because Jesus has gone into the Godhead.

Jesus said that we are one with him and one with God. Jesus passed on the power to forgive. I've seen so many examples of healing after prayer that the New Testament miracles are no longer mysterious, exotic and intimidating. That stuff happens every day.

I know I am human. I am a creature. I feel and recognize my limitations daily. But I also experience an intimation of eternity. I have tasted the absence of time and space; the contemplative sense of all in all; I've felt myself to be one with God and with all creation. I've pronounced the forgiveness of sins and known bread and wine to be the Body and Blood of Christ. I've sensed such peace that it passes understanding.

These hints and intimations are an experience of God. We are one with God; when we are open and awake, we know ourselves to be one with God.

The sense of peace has rightness that seems to be part of the afterglow of union with the divine is self-authenticating and appropriately humbling. It doesn't feel out of place to accept simply one's union with the divine as part of the human condition. Why is it so remarkable that humans can declare forgiveness? It's what God does, and it is what God wants us to do for one another.

Sometimes the line between the human and the divine tends to disappear. Jesus was pretty comfortable with that. In him, we are invited to welcome that transformation as well.

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.