Great Beginnings

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 -- Week of Proper 19
Ninian, Bishop in Galoway, c. 430

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 985)
Psalms 61, 62 (morning) 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 (evening)
Job 40:1, 41:1-11
Acts 16:6-15
John 12:9-19

While Job is in the whirlwind, being overwhelmed by the mystery and power of God, hearing that God's ways are not our ways, we read of two great beginnings today.

Jesus enters Jerusalem. The city is crowded with pilgrims for the Passover, as many as 100,000. The tension between Jesus and the authorities has grown to the place where it has been determined that they must stop his movement. There is a plot to put and end to it, by killing both Jesus and Lazarus, who has become notorious because of the story of his resuscitation from death.

Jesus does something that will set teeth on edge. He enters Jerusalem from Bethany, from the east, riding a young donkey. The intent is unmistakable. Everyone knows the prophesy from the scriptures -- look to the East; behold your king is coming sitting on a donkey's colt. The people react immediately with nationalistic fervor. They wave palm branches -- the palm is a symbol of Israel.

This intentional act by Jesus is guaranteed to crank anxiety into the system. The Romans were very sensitive to nationalistic sentiments, especially during a festival like Passover. Fresh troops arrive in Jerusalem just to keep the peace during the feast. Jesus may not have been on their radar before. They know the Messianic prophecies. With this entrance, Jesus becomes of interest to Rome.

The Jewish authorities who have the responsibility for running the country and keeping its religion orderly, within the bounds of their orthodoxies and the bounds permitted by Rome, recognize the explosive impact. Jesus has already challenged their authority and attacked their Temple monopoly. He's been on their list as a troublemaker and saboteur. This is not the kind of Messiah they are looking for, and they know Rome will react to any Messiah-talk with its customary violence. It could turn ugly in a big way. They've got to stop the troublemaker before things escalate.

Among the people are loosed so many interpretations. The classical Messianic hope is political and military. Messiah will drive out the occupiers and raise Israel above all national powers. Maybe Jesus will provoke the final triumphal Holy War. There are hopes for a revival of the Davidic monarchy. Once again a king will sit in Jerusalem. The religious anticipate a different kind of triumph, when all other religions will turn to Judaism and become subordinate to the true God. Peasants expect that all debts will be canceled, the powerful and wealthy will be cast down and the poor and humble raised up, the land will be fruitful and the lion will lie down with the lamb. In a new, peaceful kingdom, the powerful and wealthy will no longer oppress, but the little people of the land will be be sovereign, under the generous hand of God. Revolution.

Great, powerful sentiments are set in motion. Within the week, Jesus will have offended them all, and they will have dealt with him in a final, decisive way.

Two decades later, Paul and Silas have crossed over into Europe. In Macedonia, the northern province of Greece, they find a Sabbath gathering by a small river just outside Philippi. There a woman named Lydia is moved by what she hears. She is an unusual woman in a patriarchal culture. She has her own business, supplying textiles to the wealthy. She is baptized, the first European Christian, and she invites Paul into her home which will become the first house-church of Europe. Something big is beginning. From this modest start will come a movement which will one day swallow Rome and its Empire.

Whirlwinds are happening.

Lowell

_____________________________________________

Audio podcast: Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week. Click the following link: Morning Reflection Podcasts

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