More Conflicts

Monday, September 8, 2008 -- Week of Proper 18

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 983)
Psalms 41, 52 (morning) 44 (evening)
Job 32:1-10, 19 - 33:1, 19-28
Acts 13:44-52
John 10:19-30

Conflict abounds again in our readings today.

Elihu, a new speaker confronts Job. When I was in seminary, most commentators believed the Elihu speeches were inserted into the original Job text by a later scribe who may have been unsatisfied with the other responses. Current scholarship tends toward regarding these chapters as part of the original whole, functioning as a form of comic relief which slows the action as a preparation for the appearance of God. Elihu has several marks of the classic fool: he acts angrily and claims he is wiser than his elders, he comically describes himself as a bursting wineskin, he makes exaggerated claims in God's name.

In today's reading, he speaks of the person who may be "one of a thousand" who finds an angel for a mediator, and that angel declares the person righteous and delivers that one from the Pit. The speech is as if Elihu is answering Job's demand for a mediator between himself and God by jumping into the role like an exaggerated clown. He is a "Stephen Colbert" version of Job's other four friends, satirizing their serious but misguided instruction.

In the gospel we see the continuing conflict that Jesus has provoked by healing a blind man on the sabbath and by declaring his intimate relationship with God. The drama is building which will lead to his death. He invites all people to be one with God. The authorities accuse him of blasphemy.

And in the Acts of the Apostles we see the evangelism strategy of Paul and Barnabas, and the repeated conflict it stirs among the synagogues in Asia Minor. They are in the town of Antioch in southern Turkey. The congregation at any synagogue meeting would include men who were Jews, and also men who were not Jews. A group of Gentile "Godfearers" would have been seated behind a barrier that allowed them to listen and observe the synagogue meeting. Godfearers were Gentiles who admired the teaching, history, and high moral traditions of Judaism, but who were not Jews themselves. Powerful and wealthy community leaders were often among the Godfearers.

Paul's message retraced the story of Israel, focusing on the failures of Israel and the call for its repentance, and on the messianic promises made to David. He then proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah sent from God, whom the Jerusalem authorities ignorantly killed, as they had done to the other prophets. By the following sabbath (our reading today), the Jewish opposition to Paul was organized in the synagogue. Either Paul and Barnabas are thrown out, or they depart after harsh words. But they make their point by directing it primarily toward the Gentile Godfearers. And they invite the Gentiles into their full fellowship, without the necessity of being circumcised and of following the Jewish purity laws and other complicated traditions. Paul's churches were built with Gentile converts stolen from the Jewish synagogue. His strategy was a formula for conflict.

Suzanne's marvelous sermon yesterday reflected on Jesus' assumption that the church would be a place of conflict, and that often the conflict would not be resolved in a satisfactory way. Nevertheless, Jesus tells us to treat one another "as a tax collector or a Gentile," whom Jesus welcomed and feasted with.

We argue, disagree, fail to reach compromise or agreement, and we continue to meet together at the altar, to feed on the food of divine life which Jesus gives us.

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