Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Temple and the Lamb

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 -- Week of Proper 25
Eve of All Saints (All Hallows-Eve)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book)

Readings for Wednesday of Proper 25 (p. 990)
Psalms 119:49-72 (morning) 49, [53] (evening)
Ezra 6:1-22
Revelation 5:1-10
Matthew 13:10-17

Evening Prayer readings for the Eve of All Saints (Hallows' Eve) (p. 1000)
Psalm 34
Wisdom 3:1-9
Revelation 19:1, 4-10


We have such sweeping, evocative narratives in the first two readings today.

Ezra narrates the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem. The work had been challenged by the local governor and authorities, who sent messengers back to Persia to ask if the rebuilding had the support of King Darius. In the royal records, they find the earlier decree of King Cyrus authorizing the project. It was the practice of Persian kings to encourage local tribes to practice their religion and maintain their regional customs as a form of maintaining control. He supported the Jewish rebuilding of the Temple and expected their loyalty in return. Furthermore, he expected them to carefully regulate their traditional property, using their cultural laws to maintain order, especially the peaceful transfer of lands from generation to generation and the security of important boundaries for agricultural production. Persian kings delegated these orderly duties to the traditional occupants, and supported their rites and customs.

Today we read of the successful completion of the Temple in 515 BCE, approximately 70 years after its destruction. Its size seems modest to my imagination: just under 90 feet long and high, a bit shorter in length than St. Paul's if my mind's eye is correct. The priesthood is reestablished as well as the Temple sacrifices. Now that the priests and Levites could properly purify themselves, the nation is able to celebrate Passover. As the account speaks of the keeping of Passover, the original language shifts from the Aramaic which it has been using since chapter 3 into Hebrew. The nation is reborn.

There is a phrase that sticks out to me like a complicated minor chord in the middle of a triumphant piece of music. It is said that the passover is eaten by the returned exiles and by those already living in the land "who had joined them and separated themselves from the pollutions of the nations of the land to worship the Lord." Part of what is happening in this narrative is a process of ethnic purification. The reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah will be opposed by many. The book of Ruth speaks for this opposition.

In the reading from Revelation, we have another kind of Temple drama. At the right hand of the power of God is a scroll. Oddly, it is written on both sides, maybe because there is too much on it, or maybe because it is a will. Contracts and wills often had a summary written on the outside. The seal would then only be broken open when the document would be put to use. It is an exciting possibility that this is the "will" of God.

We remember the scene from yesterday -- the heavenly liturgy with God upon the throne, the seven spirits, twenty-four elders, four creatures and the perfection of worship. Now a problem is presented. Into the idyllic scene comes the presence of human failure. Only now does the Lamb appear. The Lamb has been slaughtered. It has the seven spirits, the wholeness of the spirit, upon it. Only the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll from the right hand of God and to open the seven seals. All of the heavenly chorus sing a new song, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open the seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation." This ransomed throng will have both political and religious authority, for the Lamb has made them "to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth." All the heavenly chorus sings loudly, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered."

Then the whole universe, "every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and in the sea" join in the song: 'To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'" The four living creatures, representing all the created order sound the "Amen!" And the elders fall down in worship, as in a contemplative centered universal silence.

It is important to note that every order in heaven and earth, every person and creature gives appropriate praise to God and to the Lamb. Before anything else happens in the Revelation of John, there is universal redemption.

This picture of total victory has become more and more important to me. As I have experienced the glory and wonder of God and of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, that sense of total triumph has become compelling. It has become hard for me to imagine that God will lose anyone or anything that God has created. God created all, and said that it is good. God loves all. Ultimately, God will redeem and restore all. This scene in John's Revelation is one of those visions of universal salvation.

Lowell

______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Heavenly Liturgy

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 -- Week of Proper 25

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer p. 990)
Psalms 45 (morning) 47, 48 (evening)
Ezra 5:1-17
Revelation 4:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9

Whenever we begin the Eucharistic Prayer, we start with the Sursum Corda -- "lift up your hearts." It is an invitation for the earthly congregation to join with the heavenly congregation in worship that unites all of heaven and earth in praise. Sometimes we use spatial metaphors to help us think about such things. It is traditional to think of heaven as "above" -- the transcendent dimension that is beyond us yet sometimes accessible, especially at "thin moments and thin places" such as times and places of worship. We lift up our hearts -- traditionally understood as the seat of inner emotion and thought -- to heaven. We go inward to go outward; we go down to go up.

John begins this section of his Revelation hearing a heavenly invitation: "Come up here..." He says, "At once I was in the spirit..." He ascends by going inward; he goes down to go up."

The vision that John receives is a vision of the heavenly liturgy. At the center is God, "one seated on a throne." A throne is a place of power, especially political power. Around the throne are God's triumphant people, the twenty-four elders, also seated on thrones. There are several possible explanations for the twenty-four. It is a doubling of the symbolic number 12, the number representing God's people. In this scene in Revelation, they may be the 12 tribes of Israel plus the 12 apostles, or possibly the 24 orders of priests, or even the 24 figures of the zodiac. They are the victorious heavenly counterpart to the earthly community of God's people.

All of creation is awake and singing in harmony around the heavenly home. The four orders of creation have eyes that fully understand and the freedom of six wings of mobility. The liturgy flows with beautiful unity. Creation sings the Sanctus: "Holy, holy, holy the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come." And God's people respond glorifying God, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

This is the eternal heavenly worship that we enter whenever we offer our earthly praise. The liturgy of the Eucharist is composed in such a way as to invite us into this chorus of universal praise. We join in the song of the heavens. We enter the presence of God. What happens in heaven is mirrored on earth. We go in and up; down into heaven.

Whenever we pray, especially whenever we share the Eucharist, we are joining with the glory, unity and harmony of the heavenly praise of God. It is a good thing to be intentional and conscious of that connection. As it is in heaven, may it be on earth.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Monday, October 29, 2007

Challenges in times of prosperity

Monday, October 29, 2007 -- Week of Proper 25
(James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1885)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")



Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer p. 990)
Psalms 41, 52 (morning) 44 (evening)
Zechariah 1:7-17
Revelation 1:4-20
Matthew 12:43-50

We have a brief word today from the prophet Zechariah, speaking in the year 519 BCE. He helps announce the time of rebuilding after exile. The four horsemen of God have gone throughout the world. They announce all the world is at peace. Normally that would be good news, but it is not. Why are the nations at ease while God's people suffer unjustly? Zechariah announces that God is stirring; Jerusalem and the cities will be rebuilt. His words sound like those of the 8th century prophet Amos who challenged a prosperous and secure elite not to enjoy their wealth while so many in Israel live in poverty and need.

We also read from the opening of the Revelation of John. Recent scholarship suggests that this is not a book coming out of a period of Roman persecution of the church. There is no evidence of persecution in the region of the seven churches during the later first century when Revelation was written. The book imagines suffering for the future. But the present seems to be a time of peace and prosperity. The great temptation is that of materialism. Do not be seduced by the lure of luxury and glamour of the Roman culture. Hold the faith in the face of such challenge, says John.

He opens with a trinitarian formula, offering grace and peace "from him who is and who was and who is to come (God), and from the seven spirits who are before his throne (Spirit; seven is the symbol of perfection and completeness), and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (cross, resurrection, and exaltation).

Revelation will address politics and religion. "To him who loves us and freed us... to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father..." The book speaks in the present tense. "He is coming with the clouds..."

John mentions that he was on the island of Patmos, sharing "the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance." Unlike what we were told when we visited there a few years ago, Patmos was not a penal colony. It could be that John had been banished there. It is more likely that he was on this sparsely settled island better to organize his active resistance to the Roman culture through his writing.

The vision he sees is an earthly reflection of the heavenly reality. The seven spirits are sacramentally present as seven golden lampstands, and "one like the Son of Man" appears with a description connecting to the visions from the traditions of Daniel, Zechariah, Ezekiel and Isaiah. In his right hand are seven stars (a symbol of power over destiny) and a sharp two-edged sword comes from his mouth. That is an important detail. The sword in the hand is an instrument of coercive power. The sword of the Son of Man is the power of his word and testimony. He is the presence of enlightenment: "his face was like the sun shining with full force."

John will testify that this is the true power and wealth and glory that will inherit the earth. Do not succumb to the lesser glories of the Empire and its materialism.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Friday, October 26, 2007

The Unforgivable Sin?

Friday, October 26, 2007 -- Week of Proper 24
(Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, 899)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")

Discussion Blog: To comment on today's reflection or readings, go to http://lowellsblog.blogspot.com, find today's reading, click "comment" at the bottom of the reading, and post your thoughts.


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer p. 988)
Psalms 31 (morning) 35 (evening)
Ezra 3:1-13
1 Corinthians 16:10-24
Matthew 12:22-32

Someone came to visit me the other day deeply afraid. She was afraid that she had committed the unforgivable sin. The event that troubled her had more of the characteristic of a dream than a willful act of rebellion toward God. And she had lived her life in fear of God, serving and following the Lord. Yet she had been raised in a church that preached the fear of God -- be saved, saved in the one right way, or be damned forever. She feared she was damned forever.

Some of her fear comes from this passage and its parallels in Mark and Luke. There is another reference to a sin that is beyond redemption in Hebrews. The Hebrews passage focuses on the act of denying the faith and intentionally rejecting Jesus after having become a member of Christ. Later in Hebrews the message is softened by a quick reassurance, "Beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation."

This story in Matthew targets those who see Jesus healing one who was deaf and mute. They condemn Jesus' act, saying, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out demons." In Matthew's version Jesus closes his rebuttal saying, "Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

The New Testament assurances about God's free, abundant and unqualified gift of forgiveness are to numerous to mention (The Bible has over 50 such references).

It seems obvious that anyone who is troubled in Spirit that he or she might have committed the unforgivable sin has already met the condition of repentance and forgiveness. The troubled conscience is a sign of the presence of God's Spirit and an assurance of God's forgiving love being with us.

But these passages have been the source of a great deal of speculation and have been used as something of a template for preachers to attach their favorite sins. The web site www.religioustolerance.org lists 33 different interpretations of the original sin, including not accepting the literal truth of the Bible, worshipping in churches, playing religious music, the New Age movement, criticizing speaking in tongues, being gay, taking your own life, and not forgiving others.

Protestant theologians tend to emphasize that once one is saved there is no threat from an unpardonable sin; Catholic theologians offer the sacraments as the means to forgiveness and release from all sin; liberal theologians tend to dismiss such notions as inconsistent with the dominant understanding of God as just, compassionate, merciful and forgiving.

I do not know what if anything might be considered unpardonable. I do take seriously my responsibility to declare God's love and forgiveness to those who come to me in fear with a troubled conscience. And I believe that those who profess to know what God judges to be unforgivable and those who scare people with their certainty are creeping close to that border themselves. The Holy Spirit is God's presence in the power of compassionate love; do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Rebuilding

Thursday, October 25, 2007 -- Week of Proper 24

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer p. 988)
Psalms 37:1-18 (morning) 37:19-42 (evening)
Ezra 1:1-11
1 Corinthians 16:1-9
Matthew 12:15-21

The quiet, costly work of rebuilding is a theme that seems to run through our readings today.

Psalm 37 encourages people to live faithfully with hope during difficult times. The wealthy and powerful who oppress will not do so forever. God will stand up for the just and the poor, "The little that the righteous has is better than great riches for the wicked. For the power of the wicked shall be broken, but God upholds the righteous."

We read from the beginning of Ezra, when King Cyrus issues a decree to allow the return of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was destroyed and its Temple looted and burned in 587 BCE. The leaders and many people were deported to live elsewhere. The Persian leader Cyrus captured Babylon in 539 BCE. One of the Persian strategies for stability and defense was to strictly control access to the land of their subject populations. The empire maintained control by sharply separating the regions and having each native people keep strict oversight for its area. Cyrus sent leaders of Judah and Benjamin to create such controls in Judah, with authority to rebuild the Temple. The dark side of their mission was the expectation that they would ethnically cleanse the region of non-Jews so that the Persian appointed local regents could control access to the land apportioned to Judah. The first part of the rebuilding will be to restore a Temple as the community is to be reformed around the house of God.

Paul gives some stewardship instruction to the congregation at Corinth. He is writing from Ephesus where he will stay until Pentecost (late spring). He gives the Corinthians the same "directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come." The collection he speaks of is relief money to be sent to the struggling church in and around Jerusalem. He wants them to raise that outreach collection weekly so he won't have to conduct a campaign. Presumably this collection is above and beyond the regular offerings to maintain and support the local congregation. He wants Corinth to have a stake in the rebuilding of the beleaguered community in Israel.

Finally we read of Jesus' mission to rebuild God's people Israel. Matthew sees Jesus fulfilling the role of the suffering servant of the prophet Isaiah. The servant brings justice, not just to Israel, but to the Gentiles as well. But he does so gently, quietly, humbly. "He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick..."

What quiet works of rebuilding or mission are you involved in? There are so many individuals and groups who are reaching out with compassion and generosity, holding on to hope for restoration and justice. Some seek to bring freedom and empowerment to oppressed people; some bring relief and aid for building and rebuilding. Those of us in the wealthy, comfortable "Corinthian" world can help finance and support these works of charity. God's work has always been to liberate, heal, and reconcile. All of us have our part to take in God's work.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Sabbath Commandment

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 -- Week of Proper 24

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer p. 988)
Psalms 38 (morning) 119:25-48 (evening)
Lamentations 2:8-15
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Matthew 12:1-14

Whenever the response to human need is in conflict with the law, even if it be a Biblical law, even if it is one of the Ten Commandments -- love always trumps law. The opportunity to do good, to extend mercy, to act with compassion, to relieve suffering, to love is paramount. Mere law, rule, commandment, scripture, or tradition must move aside in the face of the opportunity to act with compassion.

Today we read a story of Jesus' breaking one of the Ten Commandments. The religious authorities are furious. They believe that his action threatens and compromises the foundations of their faith and religion. The Sabbath was one of the most distinctive characteristics of Judaism. Just over a hundred years before Jesus, many faithful soldiers during the war of the Maccabeans preferred being killed rather than to defend themselves on the Sabbath and desecrate the holy days.

You might argue that Jesus didn't really break the fourth Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." You might argue that he was merely reinterpreting the tradition in a more loving, inclusive and compassionate way. But don't say that to a traditionalist. Don't make that argument to a biblical literalist. This was liberal revisionism and a threat to the faith once delivered.

Jesus and his disciples were walking through the grainfields on the sabbath. That's pretty suspicious in the first place. There was a strict limit on the distance one could walk without violating the sabbath. The disciples were hungry, so they began to pick grain from the stalk and eat it. Absolutely forbidden. That is a form of harvesting. Not allowed on the day of rest. When the conflict is raised in the synagogue, Jesus asks them, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?" It's a good question. He enters a centuries-long conversation among rabbis about what is lawful and what is unlawful on the sabbath.

About a hundred years after Jesus, Rabbi Akiba will help establish a widely accepted criterion: "Every case of danger of life allows for the suspension of the Sabbath." So, don't do things that can be done on the day before or on the day afterward. But, if danger of life exists -- a woman in childbirth; a terrible accident -- you may act without violating the sabbath rest. In the strict community of Qumran, aiding an animal giving birth or in an accident on the sabbath was outlawed. During Jesus life two competing schools of the Pharisees debated: "Man was made for the sabbath," said Rabbi Shammai; "The sabbath was made for man," claimed Rabbi Hillel.

It is clear that Jesus sided with the more liberal interpretation of Hillel. (Maybe that influenced his move from Nazareth to Capernaum. The synagogue at Nazareth was an ultra-conservative sect, not unlike today's Hasidim; the synagogue at Capernaum aligned itself with the school of Hillel.) But even progressive Judaism did not go as far as Jesus did in Matthew 12. The disciples could have fasted a day rather than pick the grain. And Jesus could heal a withered hand the day before or the day after. It was not life threatening. It did not need to be done on the sabbath. According to traditional teaching before and after Jesus, Jesus broke the 4th Commandment.

Paul recognizes the implications. We hear that today at the end of 1 Corinthians 15. Adam's sin introduced the necessity of the law as the measure of humanity's wrong. The law was created to guard and bind sinful humanity. And the price of sin is death. But the life, death and resurrection of Jesus breaks the deadly stranglehold of all three -- sin, death and the law.

In Jesus the question changes entirely. It is no longer, "What does the Bible say? What is the commandment or law or statute?" The question is now, "What is the loving, compassionate, healing, hopeful, merciful opportunity before you? Do that." Christians are still figuring out how to live into his radical example.

Lowell
______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Rest and Acceptance

Tuesday, October 23, 2007 -- Week of Proper 24
(Saint James of Jerusalem; Brother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Martyr, c. 62)

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer p. 988)

Psalms 26, 28 (morning) 36, 39 (evening)
Lamentations 1:1-5(6-9)10-12
1 Corinthians 15:41-50
Matthew 11:25-30

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Most people I know are so hard on themselves. They expect so much from themselves, whether they are talking about their behavior or their performance, their morals or their work. So many people carry the burden of feeling unable to live up to expectations. Sometimes it is the burden of the expectations of others; sometimes self-imposed expectations. So many people live with the perpetual feeling that they are not measuring up.

Most people in our culture have more to do than they can do. The first time I went on an Ignatian retreat our leader gave us some scripture to read and a style of active, meditative prayer for reflection. But then he offered a caveat. Don't worry too much about trying to pray right away. Rest. Sleep a while. Most people in our culture are perpetually tired. Usually you need to sleep the better part of two days before you can really pray. So, he said, rest. The prayer will come later when you are refreshed.

How liberating it is to let go of burdens and just be. Rest.

There is a moment in the Christian journey when we realize that we are loved and accepted completely, just as we are. That is a moment of conversion. Conversion happens when we quit trying to earn love and simply accept it.

The yoke of Christ is the gift of unqualified love. There is nothing we need do to earn it; there is nowhere we can go where there is more divine love than right here. There is no time when God will love us more than right now. Loving acceptance is the gift. It is present and effective right now and always.

We can let go of expectations. We can let go of the frantic side of working so hard -- either to avoid bad things or to earn something. Christ's message is Love. God is love. God loves you. God loves us. Just as we are. Right here. Right now. Take it easy. Relax. All is well.

Lowell

Postscript: For extra credit. (that's a joke)
Here is one of the most famous paragraphs from a sermon in the 20th century. From Paul Tillich:

Do we know what it means to be struck by grace? It does not mean that we suddenly believe that God exists, or that Jesus is the Saviour, or that the Bible contains the truth. To believe that something is, is almost contrary to the meaning of grace. Furthermore, grace does not mean simply that we are making progress in our moral self-control, in our fight against special faults, and in our relationships to men and to society. Moral progress may be a fruit of grace; but it is not grace itself, and it can even prevent us from receiving grace. For there is too often a graceless acceptance of Christian doctrines and a graceless battle against the structures of evil in our personalities. Such a graceless relation to God may lead us by necessity either to arrogance or to despair. It would be better to refuse God and the Christ and the Bible than to accept them without grace. For if we accept without grace, we do so in the state of separation, and can only succeed in deepening the separation. We cannot transform our lives, unless we allow them to be transformed by that stroke of grace. It happens; or it does not happen. And certainly it does not happen if we try to force it upon ourselves, just as it shall not happen so long as we think, in our self-complacency, that we have no need of it. Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when we feel that our separation is deeper than usual, because we have violated another life, a life which we loved, or from which we were estranged. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: "You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now; perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted!" If that happens to us, we experience grace. After such an experience we may not be better than before, and we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed. In that moment, grace conquers sin, and reconciliation bridges the gulf of estrangement. And nothing is demanded of this experience, no religious or moral or intellectual presupposition, nothing but acceptance. (Tillich)

Lowell

Monday, October 22, 2007

Change & Presumption

Monday, October 22, 2007 -- -- Week of Proper 24

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")



Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 988)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Jeremiah 44:1-14
1 Corinthians 15:30-41
Matthew 11:16-24

At the early service yesterday, our visiting preacher Corky Carlisle told a wonderful story about visiting a friend of his on her 104th birthday. She was alive and vital; she had learned three new languages during her 90's. Corky asked her for some of her wisdom and philosophy of life. How have you lived such an engaged and energetic life?

One of the things she said was that she had become comfortable with change and so she let go of her clinging to anything. Everything changes, she said. She cited the image of the mustard seed. Everything is moving from one way of being to another. The love of her life, her husband, had changed eighteen years before, going from this way of being to his new life. All of her life had been movement from one change to another. She learned sometime early to embrace and accept change, and not to cling to anything as it is. She also said she learned never to resist an impulse to generosity.

In today's reading from 1st Corinthians we can hear Paul expressing a similar detachment and trust. He speaks of the kind of ultimate hope that allowed him to fight with wild animals at Ephesus. He speaks of the kind of change that produces new life. "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies." And when it dies, it changes profoundly, like a bare seed which becomes wheat.

It is not easy to embrace change. In the gospel reading, Jesus scolds the towns where he has been working for their underwhelming response to his ministry. If such deeds had been done in the foreign towns of Tyre and Sidon, they would have responded more eagerly. Jesus pricks the bubble on all religious presumption. He puts an exclamation point on his speech by saying it will be "more tolerable" for the condemned legendary city of Sodom than for these places of lukewarm response.

There are few things that block our openness to the new and our welcome of change than our presumption. We believe we know what's going on, so we see what we expect to see. We presume to be satisfied with our own judgment, and we experience the anomaly that sets us on our ear. I have a friend who says "anomaly" is another word for "grace." Only when we surrender our attachments can we be open to change. Generosity is the stance of welcome toward the unexpected.

Lowell

______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Friday, October 19, 2007

Witnesses

Friday, October 19, 2007 -- Week of Proper 23
(Henry Martyn; Priest, and Missionary to India and Persia, 1812)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 988)
Psalms 16, 17 (morning) 22 (evening)
Jeremiah 38:14-28
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Matthew 11:1-6

Our readings today narrate three dramatic witnesses.

First we see the prophet Jeremiah in a secret consult with King Zedekiah. Surrender to the Babylonians and you and Jerusalem will be spared, Jeremiah tells the king. This was the treasonous message that earlier caused Jeremiah to be thrown into a cistern to die. We will see tomorrow that Zedekiah did not take Jeremiah's advice, but tried to solve the problems his own ways, to a tragic end. The Biblical witness is a reminder how often in history we ignore the witness and word of the prophets. They usually tell us things we don't want to hear.

Next we read one of the earliest summaries of the Christian proclamation. Paul is our earliest New Testament writer (c. 50-67 CE). He offers a summary of the teaching that he had received. It follows the same structure as the passion stories of Mark and the others -- Jesus died, was buried, raised, and appeared. Paul adds that this was all in accordance with the Scriptures -- God was at work in these events.

This passage is unique in that it is the first written account to chronicle a series of resurrection appearances of the risen Jesus -- first "to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me." There is no other account of an appearance to more than five hundred. The mention of James is also unique, but it helps explain how James, the brother of our Lord, otherwise not mentioned as a disciple during Jesus' earthly ministry, became the first leader of the Jerusalem church.

Finally we read of Jesus' word to John the Baptist. John has been placed in prison. He had prophesied that Jesus was the expected one sent from God. But his expectations followed the conventional belief that the Messiah would be a powerful military leader and judge, restoring Israel to autonomy and political significance. Now John begins to doubt. Jesus is doing none of these expected Messianic tasks. He sends from prison to ask, "Are you the one...?"

Jesus sends John an answer that speaks of a different kind of Messiah. Using words John would recognize from Isaiah, words of hope for the rebuilding of Jerusalem, he tells the messengers to report back to John what they see: "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them." This is the mission of the Messiah, says Jesus. "Blessed is anyone who is not scandalized by this."

Jesus' message might not have been what John wanted to hear. He was hoping for a fierce Messiah whose winnowing fork and fire would separate wheat and chaff. We don't know if he was more satisfied with this answer than Zedekiah was with Jeremiah's word. John died before the rest of Jesus' story. His doubts would have been confirmed on Good Friday. Messiahs don't get crucified, he would have thought.

But God does the new and unexpected. God raised Jesus and he appeared to many. Those witnesses passed on the story. It really is God's mission that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers be cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise, and the poor receive good news. That's the agenda of Jesus. That's our calling also.

Lowell
____________________


To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Order in Church

Thursday, October 18, 2007 -- -- Week of Proper 23
(St. Luke the Evangelist)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 988)
Psalms 18:1-20 (morning) 18:21-50 (evening)
Jeremiah 38:1-13
1 Corinthians 14:26-33a, 37-40
Matthew 10:34-42

Paul's conversation about order in worship and about tongues reminds me of a Sunday visit to a Florida church while on vacation several years ago. We were at the beach, and on Sunday morning went to a nearby Episcopal church. It was a congregation that practiced a charismatic spirituality and was known for the exercise of the spiritual gifts of tongues, praying and singing in the spirit, prophecy, healing, and words of knowledge. The rector was an acquaintance of mine and someone I was fond of. I had visited the church several times before. I find that I enjoy and am energized by charismatic worship, but it's not something I would want as a steady diet.

Just as we were finishing communion, the music was dying down, people were quietly praising God in whispered voices and tongues; the rector had nurtured a reverent peace within the congregation. Suddenly a voice arose from the back, just a few rows away from me. He was speaking in tongues. I listened very carefully trying to get some sense of the syntax. There were certain phrases and syllables that were repeated over and over. It was beautiful and exotic, and left a mysterious tone in the air, although I thought I had perceived some slight sign of annoyance from the rector as the speech began.

My sense seemed confirmed when the rector resumed with a prayer thanking God for this word -- if it be from God -- and wondering if there might be some interpretation. He began restoring the air of reverent peace. After about fifteen seconds another voice began, this time speaking in English. Again I listened carefully, seeing if I could catch some patterns that might match the syntax and repeated syllables from the earlier speech. The English interpretation had none of the patterns or repetitions that might connect it linguistically to the unknown tongue. In fact, it sounded very much like the Gospel of John. The language and style was very reminiscent of the 4th Gospel. Again, I thought I detected an annoyed gesture from the rector as this second voice began. When the interpretation was finished, the rector made no attempt to return to the carefully orchestrated mood of quiet prayer, but quickly launched into the closing postcommunion thanksgiving.

In this chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians, Paul gives some instructions to the congregation in Corinth about their worship. The assumed backdrop is come controversy about relative order and disorder.

Note that verses 33b-36 are omitted from the Prayer Book office lectionary as they were omitted in the 1928 Book. They are in parenthesis in many Bible translations. This is the famous "women should be silent in the churches" passage that has angered many through the ages. There is a dispute about the location of these words as some ancient authorities move these verses to the end of the chapter. Nowhere else is the role of women discussed in this section of chapters 12-14, and these instructions disagree with Paul's lengthy discussion of chapter 11 where it appears that women normally pray and prophesy in the church. We know that the church in Philippi met in the home of a woman, Lydia, and Paul includes a woman in his list of apostolic colleagues toward the end of Romans and elsewhere mentions Prisca and Phoebe. Many scholars doubt that the "women should be silent in the churches" passage was written by Paul. It seems more consistent with the later writings in his name by the unknown authors of the letters to Timothy and Titus. It appears that Paul's practice of including women among the leaders of prayer and prophecy was something that some church leaders began to compromise within a couple of generations. Many see the Episcopal Church's ordination of women in 1974 as a return to an ancient model more faithful to St. Paul's practice.

Lowell
_______________________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

True Patriots

Wednesday, October 17, 2007 -- Week of Proper 23
(Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, and Martyr, c. 115)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 988)
Psalms 119:1-24 (morning) 12, 13, 14 (evening)
Jeremiah 37:3-21
1 Corinthians 14:13-25
Matthew 10:24-33

What does it mean to be loyal to your people and nation? You can almost hear Zedekiah the king trying to intimidate Jeremiah. "You are not a patriot. Do not say the things you are saying. Your words only give aid and comfort to our enemies. Be quiet, and tell the people to support their leaders." Leaders never like to hear the bad news.

But Jeremiah perseveres in speaking truth to power. He tells Zedekiah that the Chaldeans (Babylonians) will take Jerusalem and burn it with fire. When Zedekiah sees a hopeful sign as the Babylonians lift the Jerusalem siege in order to go to meet the challenge of the army of Egypt, Jeremiah spoils his hope. If "there remained of them only wounded men in their tents, they would rise up and burn this city with fire."

So Zedekiah puts a bit of pressure on the prophet, to get him to change his tune. Officials trump a charge against Jeremiah, beat him and imprison him in a cistern house. Maybe if they soften him up he'll give them the "intelligence" they want.

But Jeremiah is like a rock. To the king he says, "You shall be handed over to the king of Babylon." Then Zedekiah backs off a bit and puts Jeremiah in more comfortable, but guarded quarters, with daily bread. At least until the bread runs out during the siege that fulfills Jeremiah's prophecy.

As we move into our reading of Matthew's gospel, it is like hearing Jesus send encouragement to Jeremiah from the future and send encouragement from the past to those who speak truth to power in our day. "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known."

Jesus tell his followers to speak from the housetops the dark truths, and do not be afraid of those who threaten. They can do nothing to the soul. God sees and knows all. His eye is on the sparrow. God knows every hair on your head. God loves and values all people. So do not be afraid of those who use threat and lies to intimidate and frighten.

We live in a time when fear seems to be the weapon of choice. Terrorists are pitiful sorts, who have no power but the fear they hope to create. Fear seems to be the strategy of choice for our leadership as well. They seek to create enough anxiety and fear among our people that we will readily accede to their insistence upon violence, secrecy, intimidation of opponents, torture and the compromise of our historical freedoms. When contemporary Jeremiahs speak out against such futile strategies, their loyalty is demeaned and they are marginalized.

The Biblical witness challenges our day. Do not be afraid. Fear only plays into the purpose of terror. Fear and intimidation won't work. It didn't work for Zedekiah and it won't work today. "Have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret will not become known." God's eye is still on the sparrow. Let the sparrows sing.

Lowell

____________________________________

______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Prophecy

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 -- Week of Proper 23
(Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Bishops, 1555; Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1556)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 988)
Psalms 5, 6 (morning) 10, 11 (evening)
Jeremiah 36:27 - 37:2
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Matthew 10:16-23

There is much today about the prophetic word.

Yesterday we read of how Jeremiah's scribe Baruch came read the scroll of his prophecy publicly. Jeremiah condemned the leadership of Israel and its king, Jehoiakim. Jeremiah prophesies that God would punish Israel for her unfaithfulness to God's will, using the instrument of the Babylonian army to carry out the judgment.

With singular arrogance and disdain, the king burned the scroll of Jeremiah's prophecy as it was read to him. Jeremiah and Baruch went into hiding and Jeremiah dictated another longer scroll. Nothing good can come of this arrogance. The prophet will not be silenced.

Paul commends the ministry of prophecy to the congregation in Corinth. He tells them to speak in a way that allows others to understand what is said and which builds up the community. He contrasts prophetic speech with speaking in tongues, which satisfies the speaker, but fails to edify the listener. Comprehendable speech that builds community is better than "church-speak."

And Matthew's gospel sends the disciples out "like sheep into the midst of wolves." There will be conflict. The values of the church will seem threatening to other powers, both religious and political. Persevere. The Spirit will speak through you. Even though you may experience betrayal and sabotage from within and attack from without, persevere in witness.

I think about today's prophets. Who are they and what are they saying? How are they being received?

We have heard the warnings of judgment for our wastefulness, pollution and exploitation of our environment. Today the message of prophecy is often spoken to us by our scientists and researchers. Humanity is contributing to a climate change that threatens the earth, they tell us. But that is inconvenient to the powerful. A responsible response would be expensive.

Our leaders heard the warnings from the church -- do not initiate a war in Iraq. John Paul II led an international chorus of Christian voices, including our own Presiding Bishop and Executive Council and the leaders of other denominations -- evangelicals, pentecostals, and mainline churches. Every church body who spoke out prior to our invasion (except the Southern Baptists) urged the President not to go to war. He was told that the war did not meet the criteria of a just war. He was warned that it would create problems greater than it would solve. Like many others, I experienced the President's attitude to be one of arrogance, reminiscent of Jehoiakim. Nothing good can come of such.

Other prophets speak to us of the needs of those who lack access to basic health care in our wealthy country. Of the failure of our inner cities and the potential for beginning early education for our children so they don't fall irrevocably behind. Of the massive transfer of wealth into the hands of the few. Of the reality of soaring debt and deficits and the rhetoric of tax cuts. Of the futility of violence and threat. Of the danger of extreme religion and the hope of ecumenism. Of the unique potential our generation has to eliminate extreme poverty in the world.

The prophets today say the same things they always have said. Be faithful to God. Care for the poor, the vulnerable and the alien. Do not be violent or arrogant. Caution to the powerful and wealthy. Care for what God has entrusted to you. Trust God and not your own strength. Live with generous hope.

Lowell

______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Monday, October 15, 2007

Faith, Hope, and Love

Monday, October 15, 2007 -- Week of Proper 23
(Teresa of Avila, Nun, 1582)

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 988)
Psalms 1, 2, 3 (morning) 4, 7 (evening)
Jeremiah 36:11-26
1 Corinthians 13:(1-3)4-13
Matthew 10:5-15

1 Corinthians 13 is among the best known passages in the Christian scriptures, largely because it is used so often at weddings. It is known as "the love chapter." It is beautiful and poetic. It is also deeply personal to Paul.

Although the words resonate for all of us, when you read them as the particular witness of Paul, they describe something of his own understanding of how he practiced his ministry.

He exercised the gifts of speaking in tongues and of preaching. He claimed prophetic powers and taught the mystery of the revealed knowledge brought to us through Christ. He gave away his possessions in order to travel and teach. His body was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. He says of his own experience, without love, it is nothing.

Then he describes love in terms of how he has practiced his ministry, often in the midst of conflict, especially with this congregation in Corinth. He has worked to be patient and kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. In some things he has not insisted on his own way. He has forgiven, and let go of irritation and things to resent. He has not rejoiced in wrongdoing, but has rejoiced in the truth. Paul has born all things, believed all things, hoped all things, and certainly endured all things.

He speaks of the aspects of his ministry which, though valuable, do not endure -- prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. Whatever he experiences of these is only partial. It will be transcended in the last day. We only know in part, we only "see in a mirror, dimly."

But he looks forward to seeing Christ face to face, when he will fully know and be fully known. What abides forever is faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.

In Christian tradition faith, hope, and love are known as the Cardinal Virtues, the prime virtues from which all good comes. In the opening salutation of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians he writes, "We always give thanks to God for all of you... constantly remembering... your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." And in the letter to the Colossians there is a similar greeting: "In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven."

I think that we'll hear a presentation from Bill Countryman when he speaks in our McMichael Lecture Series in a couple of weeks proposing that these three qualities -- faith, hope, and love -- are the distinctive Christian lens for our reading and interpretation of the scripture and for the orientation of our lives.

Faith as trust in God, hope as hope in God, and love as the expression of hopeful trust is a succinct description of the characteristically Christian stance toward all of life. ...including all of the stuff that Paul mentions has been important to him and to his ministry, but does not truly endure like these three.

What will today be like if we walk into it with a conscious intention to experience the day only through the lens of faith, hope, and love? That's today's invitation from our friend Paul.

Lowell


______________________

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the "Morning Reflections" email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

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

Friday, October 12, 2007

Seeing

Friday, October 12, 2007 -- Week of Proper 22

"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

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 www.stpaulsfay.org and click "Morning Reflection podcast")


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Prayer Book, p. 986)
Psalms 140, 142 (morning) 141, 143:1-11(12) (evening)
2 Kings 23:36 - 24:17
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Matthew 9:27-34

A couple of characteristics of Matthew's gospel appear in our story today. When Matthew tells a story that he has received from Mark, he typically doubles the number of persons healed. In Matthew 8 the demoniac living in the tombs becomes two demoniacs. Mark's story of the healing of the blind Bartemaus becomes the healing of two blind men in Matthew 20. The first healing story today sounds a lot like that one. I don't know why Matthew doubles the number of those healed in his version of these stories. It may be simply to increase the magnitude and drama of the deeds.

A second characteristic of the stories in Matthew and also in the other Gospels is that they frequently represent illness as a metaphor for a spiritual impediment. In today's reading there is a blind man. Jesus heals him so that he can see. He goes away spreading the news about Jesus. A man whose muteness is credited to a demon is healed, and he speaks. The blind sees, the mute speaks, the demon is cast out. The people speak in wonder and amazement.

Then the punch line. "But the Pharisees said, 'By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.'" The healings are a metaphor for the spiritual blindness of those who cannot see or speak of the goodness of Jesus. They are blind to his goodness, and see and speak only of the work of demons.

The word "prejudice" means to "pre-judge." I wonder how often I have been blind to the goodness of another simply because I have already judged that person or the group that person represents. When have I spoken skeptically of their motives or their work because I bear a suspicion toward them?

I read of a follow-up editorial by a California columnist. He was commenting on the flood of negative, even hateful response he got when he tried to chronicle the contributions that illegal aliens were making to California's economy. The numbers were powerful and impressive. Without the input of labor and skill from undocumented workers, California's economy would simply crumble. It couldn't function. Blasphemy! cried the readers. That can't be true, you lawbreaker.

I wonder if another California report estimating that illegal workers contribute $38 billion a year to Social Security met similar protests. The Social Security Administration stashes earnings from fictitious and unknown SSN's into a fund that now generates nearly $7 billion in Social Security tax revenue and about $1.5 billion in Medicare taxes. These workers will never collect on the benefits of these taxes because they are undocumented workers. Our Social Security system is significantly benefited by their contributions. I didn't see whether that column got an equally hostile response.

Immigration is a complicated issue. Part of seeing reality and speaking truthfully is having eyes healed and tongues that can speak of the goodness as well as the challenges and troubles that are present. Some Pharisees were unable to see any good thing that Jesus did. It all came from the demons, they said. Some Americans seem unable to see any good coming from the influx of illegal aliens. All bad, they say.

All of us have our blind spots and our prejudices. Part of our healing is coming to awareness of those handicaps and being willing to let the kind of love that Jesus demonstrates heal and free us. When the blind men came to him, Jesus asked, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" When they said, yes, he touched them with these words: "According to your faith let it be done to you." Their faith was such that their eyes were opened. Can we have faith enough to let go of our own blindness and our prejudice so that we can see clearly?

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
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