Prostitutes and Bridesmaids

Monday, July 14 -- Week of Proper 10

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 975)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Joshua 1:1-18
Romans 11:1-12
Matthew 25:1-13

A prostitute is the hero of today's story from Joshua. Spies from Joshua's camp go to Jericho and enter the home of Rahab. From the perspective of a spy, it's a good plan. A house of ill repute would be a place where strangers might come and go without arousing suspicion.

But there is some spy vs. spy business going on. The local authorities tell Rahab, "Bring out the men who have come to you..." Yes, it is a double entendre. The statement can have a sexual meaning. But the sly prostitute outsmarts everyone. She had hidden the men on her roof sometime before the authorities arrived. She tells them that the spies have slipped out of the city gates, "pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them." Now there are pursuers between the spies and their return to Joshua.

Rahab goes to negotiate with the spies she now has trapped on her roof. They are within her power. She tells them the information they need -- the city has heard of the exploits of the army of Israel and is afraid. Then she gets from them the assurance she needs, her family and household, presumably including her "business associates" in her house, will be protected, just as she has protected the spies. Spy vs. spy vs. sly. "Our life for yours!" cry the spies. "If you will not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the Lord gives us the land."

Situational ethics indeed. What about the commandment against adultery? Adultery is her business. And somebody is going to "bear false witness" to somebody about all of this. Rahab lies and promises to lie. Two of the ten commandments compromised. Yet Rahab is remembered as a champion. Both New Testament books of Hebrews and James look to her with honor -- Hebrews sites her as a model of faith, James as an example of works.

We also have a discourse today from Paul offering an interpretation that makes the best of a morally questionable situation. Most of Israel has rejected Christ. Will, therefore, God reject them? "By no means!" cries Paul. Look what God has done. God used their stumbling to open salvation to the Gentiles. God takes what is bad, and turns it into good. Death and resurrection. Paul looks forward to the day of God's total victory, where even those who have rejected and denied Christ will be fully included. "Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!"

God makes possibilities for new life out of the shrewdness of a prostitute and the rejection of Jesus by most of Israel. It's a regular pattern in the scripture, a repeated story, God is present and effective in surprising ways and ambiguous situations.

Yet today we also get a story of boundaries and judgment -- the story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. The story, unique to Matthew, is probably best read as an allegory. Matthew enjoys allegorizing. Allegorically the oil in the bridesmaids' lamps represents their righteous deeds. The righteous action of one cannot be shared. You are responsible for your own deeds. Actions have consequences.

Be filled with oil. Prepare and act responsibly. Sometimes the door is shut and you lose an opportunity. Yet, God can work even through a prostitute, and God's full victory is assured, even on behalf of those who have rejected the Messiah.

Judgment and mercy. In the end, mercy.

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