Privilege and Responsitility

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 -- Week of Proper 2

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 967)
Psalms 119:1-24 (morning) 12, 13, 14 (evening)
Proverbs 6:1-19
1 John 5:1-12
Matthew 11:16-24

All of our readings today invite us to be self-reflective and self-critical.

The first two of the four short pieces in Proverbs address internal obstacles to becoming wise -- poor judgment (in this case, being a third party guarantor on a loan) and laziness. It closes with a list of activities "that are an abomination" to God.

1 John has been drawing our focus on the centrality of love: God is love; God's commandment is "love one another." Today the letter embodies our loyalty to love by pointing our faith toward Jesus.

Matthew's gospel speaks woe to the villages where Jesus has lived and taught -- Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Because of their good fortune, they will be judged more critically than the cities that serve as symbols of Gentile evil -- Tyre, Sidon and Sodom.

These latter comments would have been received with about as much enthusiasm as a commentator today telling Americans that we are the problem for the world. If someone were to say to us, "With all of the benefits that we have been given, look at America's greediness and violence. On the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Iran and North Korea..." Such a comment would be dismissed with disgust by others: "Blame America first..."

Jesus alludes to the criticism that he and the forerunner John the Baptist have received. Both have played the role of the prophet. Both have raised up criticism of God's people in the name of God. Both were opposed and criticized, John the ascetic and Jesus who feasted.

Elsewhere there is a teaching that claims much is expected from those to whom much is given. Privilege brings responsibility. Both the Wisdom traditions and the Prophetic traditions are very critical of those who simply claim privilege and enjoy its power and prerogatives, especially if mixed with a little pride. The worst manifestations of pride are directed toward those who lean on their unearned privileges.

I am one of those who is the product of manifest unearned privilege. I was born in the most powerful, wealthy nation in the world. I am male, white, and straight. I am the child of two parents with graduate degrees. My family was prosperous. They gave me lessons for music and swimming and tennis. I lived in a college town and was exposed to art and beauty. I always had food, shelter, running water, clothes. All of these are unearned privileges that gave me certain advantages. Other human beings live without some or all of these privileges and must struggle in ways that I didn't experience.

The Biblical traditions, from both the wisdom and prophetic literature, level strong criticism at those like me who have been given so many advantages. Be not haughty. Because you have been given so much that you did not earn, you are expected to live with special generosity. And beware of being critical of those were not as privileged. Had they been given your luck, how much more might they have accomplished.

The invitation is for a humble generosity of spirit that reaches out like Jesus with special compassion and respect toward "the little, the lost and the leprous." Those who have privilege will always be able to take care of themselves. They need no advocacy, they need no breaks. There is a higher responsibility to be directed toward those who have been given fewer advantages. It is the responsibility of the powerful and privileged to work for the equality, potential and benefit of all. If we who are privileged fail to perform our higher duty toward our neighbors, the prophets and sages are consistent in their word to us. "Woe. Woe to you..."

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
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


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

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

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas