The Dawn

Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 45, 46 (morning)
Isaiah 35:1-10
Revelation 22:12-17, 21
Luke 1:67-80

Christmas Eve (evening)
Psalms 89:1-29
Isaiah 59:15b-21
Philippians 2:5-11

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78f)

It is dark. But I know the dawn is coming. It is Christmas Eve.

I remember the special excitement I had for this day as a child. There were those mysterious presents, hidden under their wrappings beneath the glowing tree. I always woke up and sneaked into the living room while it was dark to see if "He" had visited yet. I'll never forget seeing my first bicycle there in the pale darkness. It was wonderful. I could barely get back to sleep. Later, when it was early light, I had to wake up and act like I was surprised, after I had been thinking sleeplessly about that bicycle standing with such concrete realness so wonderfully close for so long.

We wait for so many longed for dawnings. Isaiah pictures the hope of an exiled people who will return home and the desert will bloom. "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees." With God's help we can turn deserts into gardens. This lost darkness will not last forever. One day, soon, our eyes will be open and we will see, our ears will be unstopped and we will hear, our frozen path will be liberated and our silent tongues sing for joy. "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

It is still dark. But the first grayness is beginning. It's too cloudy to see the morning star today. But I know it's there. Like a mother in labor, the earth turns to bring forth new life. Like the gift of a child, the new day is coming.

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.'
And let everyone who hears say, 'Come.'
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift." (Rev. 22:17)

It is exciting. Especially because it is nearly Christmas. But with just a little childlike wonder, every miraculous day could be Christmas.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen." (the last words of the New Testament)

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

The Seventh Egg

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 -- Week of 4 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 66, 67 (morning) 116, 117 (evening)
Isaiah 11:10-16
Revelation 20:11 - 21:8
Luke 1:5-25

I was reading something written by a nutritionist some time ago. He was offering a touch of satire about a report that said it was safe to eat up to six eggs a week. "Don't touch that deadly seventh egg, or you'll die!" he quipped.

Where is the tipping point? Six eggs, safe? Seven eggs, goner?

How about with sin and goodness? How does the scale tip? When biblical writers and any of the rest of us speculate about judgment and heaven and hell, what's the deadly seventh egg? What can you do, or fail to do, that will throw you over the precipice forever? How close to the edge can somebody go and still get pulled back into paradise?

The reading today in Revelation prompted my thoughts. It starts with the "great white throne and the one who sat on it" who opens the book of life and "the dead were judged according to their works, ...according to what they had done, ...and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

There is one school of thought that has a pretty simple, pat answer. Doesn't matter about your "works." Only if you profess Jesus as your Lord and Savior do you get your name in the book of life. Once saved, always saved. So a violent, scandalous evildoer who repents at some point in his life and is saved, has his name in the book of life. And a holy person of Christ-like compassion such as Gandhi or the Dalai Lama are "thrown into the lake of fire." That is an unjust system. Not worthy of God.

One of the presumptions behind this notion is that everybody has sinned, therefore everybody deserves God's judgment. But what if you think about this the other way around. Everybody has done good. There is not a single life on this planet that has not had a moment of love or compassion, an act of honesty our courage. Everyone has given and received love at some point. Will God lose anyone who has loved? Everyone who has loved deserves reunion with God. St. Augustine said that sin was love for the wrong thing in the wrong proportion (or something like that).

If some of these partially good and partially evil people are to be brought into heaven and some are to be thrown into the lake of fire, what's the tipping point? Who has the hubris to declare?

Plenty of our biblical authors have offered their solution to the question. So have religious people throughout the ages. In the glory of John the Divine's vision of the "Alpha and Omega" and the gift of water from the spring of life, he also sees the following who are to be thrown into the "lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death": "the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murders, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars." I imagine every one of us falls in one or more of these categories to some degree.

Where is the seventh egg? Every once in a while I tell a white lie. Does one white lie earn me the lake of fire? Six? Seven? Or does it have to be a whopper? If so, how many?

I'm an American, and in my name we have launched shock and awe upon the Iraqi people, a war that has caused the death of nearly 90,000 non-combatant citizens, according to some counts. Our judicial system executes the wrong person from time to time, in all of our names. I use more than my share of food, water and energy while others starve. Am I a murderer?

To some degree or another I am a coward, I am faithless, I am polluted, etc. Where's the seventh egg? How far do I have to go to earn the lake of fire? How naughty could I be and still be recalled from the edge of the lake?

I'm also a pretty good guy. I've done some good things in my life and on occasion been courageous, faithful, pure, non-violent, honorable, humble, reverent, and honest. Not always, but sometimes. What does that count for? Could I get a count so I'll know where I'm needing a few good points to balance some category where I'm on the edge of the lake?

I give up on this stuff. It's never made any sense to me. Moreover, I don't see anything in Jesus' life that would imply that he would send anyone into an eternal lake of fire. Well, he did get pretty riled up about the religious authorities who were pretty certain they were headed to the waters of life and were pretty certain who those others were, those sinners. Jesus was pretty friendly with those sinners. And when the righteous and unjust and violent did their worst and had Jesus tortured and killed, he said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

I'm just going to do the best I can, and when I don't, confess it and leave it with God. I'm not going to worry about anybody else. That's their journey with God. I'm just going to trust God for justice and for mercy. Most of the hints I get from God point toward a God who is more wonderful, loving and creative than I can imagine. I've got my hands full trying to live in the here and now. I'm not going to worry or speculate about whatever is on the other side. Whatever God wants is fine with me.

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

Isaiah's Dream

Monday, December 22, 2008 -- Week of 4 Advent; Year One
St. Thomas the Apostle (transfered from 12/21)

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 61, 62 (morning) 112, 115 (evening)
Isaiah 11:1-9
Revelation 20:1-10
John 5:30-47

We all dream of a time when things are set right -- when the society and its various authorities promote justice and peace, when we ourselves are centered and whole, when the whole earth lives in harmony and health.

Isaiah 11 speaks of these hopes for all of us. The specific setting of this oracle is at a dark and lost moment. The Babylonians had removed Zedekiah, the last of the line of kings from the family of David. His nephew, the former king, Jehoichin, is a prisoner, taken in chains in the exile to Babylon. The nation and its people have been ravaged.

Isaiah dreams of a "shoot [that] shall come out from the stump of Jesse." (Jesse is David's father.) He dreams of a future ruler who will be righteous and just. He lists the qualities of this one on whom the spirit of the Lord will rest (we'll get back to that in a moment). Isaiah describes the kind of government this good leader would institute -- a policy of advocacy for the poor and "equity for the meek;" his power will be the power of his word, rather than sword; righteousness and faithfulness will support him. Don't we all dream of such a just government? Especially when things seem ruinous.

But more than a renewed and reformed political hope, Isaiah dreams of a day of universal peace, when violence has ended not only between nations and peoples but also throughout the natural order, between wild and domestic animals. He imagines a new earth, without violence and disorder? Don't we all dream of such a cosmic peace?

Yet, tucked into this picture of hope is the seed of a personal dream as well. Isaiah's list of virtues that will characterize this ideal king from the stump of Jesse, are picked up by the early church in Paul's essay on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. Twelve centuries later, Thomas Aquinas would develop this list of virtues into the Church's teaching on the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit with their correspondence to the seven Capital Virtues.

Wikipedia nicely summarizes Aquinas' description of these gifts that are infused by the Holy Spirit.
* Wisdom (sabidura) - The gift of wisdom perfects a person's speculative reason in matters of judgment about the truth, Aquinas writes.

* Knowledge - The gift of knowledge perfects a person's practical reason in matters of judgment about the truth, Aquinas writes

* Judgment - The gift of counsel perfects a person's practical reason in the apprehension of truth and allows the person to respond prudently, moved through the research of reason, Aquinas writes.

* Courage -The gift of Courage allows people the firmness of mind [that] is required both in doing good and in enduring evil, especially with regard to goods or evils that are difficult, Aquinas writes.

* Understanding - Also called "Common Sense." The gift of understanding perfects a person's speculative reason in the apprehension of truth. It is the gift whereby self-evident principles are known, Aquinas writes.

* Piety - Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father, Aquinas writes.

* Fear of the Lord - This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Also known as knowing God is all powerful.

Don't we all wish to live with such authenticity and character?

At a moment when the royal dynasty has been removed, a nation overwhelmed, and peoples' spirits shattered, Isaiah dares to dream of a new reality. Christians see much of Isaiah's dream being fulfilled in Jesus, the shoot and branch from Jesse's stump. We see Jesus as the ideal ruler. Now we are invited to internalize this dream and these virtues, that we may reclaim for God our small part of the world and foster again the peaceful kingdom.

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

Jesus and John

Friday, December 19, 2008 -- Week of 3 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 40 (morning) 54 (evening)
Isaiah 10:5-19
2 Peter 2:17-22
Matthew 11:2-15

John the Baptist is not one of Jesus' disciples. According to Luke's account, they are cousins. According to several accounts, Jesus received the baptism of John. There is evidence of some jealousy or conflict between the followers of the two. Since we only have the writings of the followers of Jesus, we don't know anything about how John's disciples might have characterized Jesus and his disciples. Our Gospel of John goes to great lengths to claim that John the Baptist deferred to Jesus' authority, but to some ears it sounds like John the Evangelist "protesteth too much." It may be that John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the coming Messiah; it may be that Jesus' disciples later claimed John's endorsement.

John was a dramatic figure. He revived the ancient prophetic role. Part of that revival included the prophets' tradition of speaking truth to power. Like so many of the ancient prophets, John challenged royal corruption and misuse of power. Like several of his forebears, he suffered persecution.

John became a discomfort to the tetrarch Herod Antipas. John was speaking with authority and drawing followers to himself. There was potential for rebellion and resistance. Herod allowed no rivals. He had John arrested. When John challenged the legality and morality of Herod's marriage to his brother's wife, Herod executed him.

Today's scene from Matthew's gospel has John lingering in prison. He is probably hoping for some sign that God is inspiring anointed leadership to rise up against Herod and the occupying Romans to liberate God's people as in the days of the Exodus and to restore the Davidic kingship as the scripture promised. None of that seems to be happening. Whether John had identified Jesus as the coming one or possibly hoped Jesus was, he sends word in a question. "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

Jesus describes his ministry in terms that John recognizes. It is part of Isaiah's oracle about the restoration of Jerusalem after the exile (35:5-6). Many hopeful people had incorporated these visions into their expectations for the Messiah. "Go and tell John what you hear and 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. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

What Jesus describes is a very limited Messianic mission. He is bringing healing, wholeness and compassion. But he is not bringing political and economic liberation. It would be easy for someone to take offense at him. He is not fulfilling the popular expectations for the Messiah.

Note that Jesus doesn't say, "And blessed are those who follow me as Lord and Savior." He doesn't ask for that. He simply blesses those who are not offended or scandalized by his mission of healing and compassion. That's enough for Jesus' blessing.

John is not a disciple of Jesus. He doesn't have to become one either. All John need do to be blessed by Jesus is not to be offended and scandalized by Jesus' ministry of kindness. That's enough. The border between insider and outsider is made rather thin and porous by that standard. Elsewhere Jesus says, "Anyone who is not against me is for me." Jesus has given the church an example of generosity and hospitality toward those who are not part of the church, but whom we as the Church can feel free to bless.

One postscript. John's preaching was unique and singular. He baptized those who would receive his message of repentance and renewal. As far as we know, his disciples were not deputized to teach and to baptize. The authority of his movement was concentrated in his person. When Herod cut off the head, John's movement effectively died with its leader's death.

Jesus empowered others to preach, teach and heal. Wherever its origins, the act of baptism was diversely administered by Jesus' followers. The power and authority of Jesus was easily distributed. When Jesus died, his movement did not die with him.

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

Speaking Words of Judgment

Thursday, December 18, 2008 -- Week of 3 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 50 (morning) [59, 60] or 33 (evening)
Isaiah 9:18 - 10:4
2 Peter 2:10b-16
Matthew 3:1-12

There are so many ways to speak words of judgment.

John the Baptist speaks renewal from the wilderness. He invites people into a new Exodus, taking lifelong Jews through waters of baptism as though they were Gentile converts. But he looks at those who are there not for conversion and transformation, he looks at the religious authorities who are certain of and confident of their faith and their standing before God, and John speaks judgment to them. "You brood of vipers!" The one thing a religious bully can't take is another religious bully. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance."

Then John attacks their presumptions. Don't think you've got a monopoly on truth. Don't think God endorses your exclusive brand of religion. God can raise faithful followers from these stones. It's a rocky place.

Then John calls down the prophecy of wrath. The ax of righteousness will cut down every tree that fails to bear good fruit; the one coming after John will clear the harvest, gather the wheat and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. John knows how to give 'em hell.

But that's not what happened. Jesus came. Instead of dishing out hell he absorbed it with love and conquered it with life. He didn't ax down anyone or burn them with hell fire. His fire was the uniting fire of Pentecost that overcame barriers of language and culture. The only ones Jesus spoke harshly to were those who were, like this audience, certain of their rightness and claiming a monopoly on God. His judgment was the judgment of love. That's not hellfire, but it's very hot stuff.

Isaiah speaks judgment to Judah. He points out the destruction that their neighbors in Ephraim (Israel) have experienced. What makes you think you are better than they are? he asks Judah. The wealthy and powerful bend the system toward their advantage. "Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!" He could be writing an opinion column for today's newspaper. Isaiah could be a talking head on cable TV. He says that God has a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. That's who the prophets speak for. Usually that's the opposite of who the profits speak for.

And then we get to 2 Peter. My goodness, what language! He is after somebody, big time. He accuses them of slandering the angels; they are "like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed... They are blots and blemishes... They have eyes full of adultery insatiable for sin. ...They have hearts trained for greed. Accursed children!" This is heavy blogging. (and there's more to come)

What's he so angry about? It's hard to know. It seems to be a fight about the coming of Jesus and the apocalyptic expectations of the Church. We're around 100 years after Jesus. Some people, maybe pagan converts, question about the "when" or the "if" of Jesus' return. One interpretation says that Jesus has already returned in the coming of the Holy Spirit. Others minimize the energy around the "end time." They are only interested in living faithfully in the present. Some scoff and are skeptical of the whole idea of the second coming. The writer of 2nd Peter screams, "These people are wrong and horrible. Jesus is returning with judgment! His delay is a gift of mercy, but you'd better be ready. It could be today. If you don't think so, you are (fill in the polemic here)."

Sounds a bit like John the Baptist, doesn't he. "You brood of vipers!" You "irrational animals..."

The energy of 2 Peter remains with the church. There are preachers and congregations that can fill you with the fear of the immanent judgment of the end of The Late Great Planet Earth, when so many of "those others" will be Left Behind.

But what if they're wrong? John the Baptist was wrong. What if 2 Peter is wrong? What if the Jesus who returns is the same Jesus who was with us 2000 years ago, and he doesn't plan to lay the ax to the roots and he doesn't want to burn the chaff with unquenchable fire? What if Jesus plans to continue to be who he is and to do what he did during the incarnation? What if Jesus intends to overcome evil with good; to offer love, healing and compassion; to absorb violence and injustice returning only the words of grace: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."?

What if Jesus doesn't ever return, or doesn't plan to return? How do you want to live? Do you still want to call down hellfire and judgment on the ones who don't believe the right things about the second coming? Or do you want to promote love, compassion and justice, which is the real agenda of God in Christ?

How do you want to speak words of judgment?

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

No Morning Reflection Today

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 -- Week of 3 Advent; Year One
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 119:49-72 (morning) 49, [53] (evening)
Isaiah 9:8-17
2 Peter 2:1-10a
Mark 1:1-8

I am leaving home early today and can't do a Morning Reflection.

Lowell

Hope Springs Eternal

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 -- Week of 3 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 45 (morning) 47, 48 (evening)
Isaiah 9:1-7
2 Peter 1:12-21
Luke 22:54-69

My eyes crossed yesterday; I typed the Psalms for today and the Gospel for today when I entered yesterday's readings. I'm going to read yesterday's Gospel and Psalms today -- Psalms 41, 52 (morning); 44 (evening) and Luke 22:39-53

Isaiah's beautiful passage poetically sings of an eternal hope. We all long for the coming of peace and of anointed, just, and wise leadership. In the time of Isaiah (8th century BCE), the threat to Judah came from the north, from Galilee, Zebulum and Naphtali. From there came the Assyrian threat. Isaiah imagines a day when "all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire." We can dismantle the instruments and effects of war. It is an eternal hope.

And Isaiah sees a royal birth, the coming of a just and wise king to the throne of David. Just as Isaiah has named the three children to prophecy the passage of the threatened invasion from Israel and Aram, now Isaiah names this new anointed king: "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." God will establish this new king, "and there shall be endless peace... with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

In one sense, Isaiah's vision is a timeless one. We all long for peace, for justice, and for wise and good leadership. Many scholars believe that this oracle may have celebrated the coronation of Hezekiah who succeeded Ahaz (? 725 or 715?). Hezekiah brought a change in the policies of Ahaz. Hezekiah attempted to separate from the alliance of tribute to Assyria that Ahaz had initiated against Isaiah's counsel.

Yet Hezekiah's policies were unsuccessful in liberating Judah from Assyrian oppression. So some scholars believe this oracle praises the reforming king Josiah (639-609). Under his rule Assyrian control finally ended, and he initiated a religious and economic reform that fits the prophet's vision of righteousness. It was during his refurbishment of the Temple that the scroll of the law (Deuteronomy?) was discovered. Josiah led a movement of renewal and righteousness following the teaching of the ancient Torah.

Yet, Josiah was tragically killed at the height of his effectiveness. Within twenty years Judah and Jerusalem was overthrown by the Babylonians and its leaders taken into exile.

So Isaiah's vision continued in a timeless fashion. The early Christian movement picked up this hope and applied it to Jesus. This oracle is usually read as part of the Christmas liturgy when we celebrate the coming of the Christ child. We can hear its words set to the music of Handel's Messiah: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Christians see Jesus as the descendant of David establishing an endless rule. Yet peace and righteousness still remain a future hope.

For many people, the change from George Bush to Barak Obama has some of the qualities that Isaiah identifies in the change from Ahaz to Hezekiah. Ahaz had ignored religious counsel and become embroiled in a tragic, ill conceived, and costly political and military adventure with Assyria -- modern Iraq. The new king Hezekiah vowed to extract Judah from that quagmire. Our President-elect has made similar promises. Hope springs eternal for peace and for justice as well as for wise and righteous leadership.

I'll go one step further to offer my observations of our new leader. He is very different from George Bush. The anticipation for change is electric. My sense is that Barak Obama is primarily a pragmatist. He is a problem-solver who seeks solutions that he believes are likely to work. Secondly, he is attracted to competent and gifted people, even those who don't necessarily agree with him. He tends to seek the council of the brightest minds he can find and turn toward people of some proven capacity. Third, he has a streak of idealism that guides much of his direction. But his idealism is tempered by his pragmatism.

Pragmatism, competence, and idealism -- those seem to be the marks of Obama's style of leadership. Will he try and ultimately fail, like Hezekiah? Or will he bring about a hoped-for reform, like Josiah? Who knows. But hope does spring eternal for peace and for justice, as well as for wise and righteous leadership.

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

Peter's Rehabilitation and Virtue Lists

Monday, December 15, 2008 -- Week of 3 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 938)
Psalms 45 (morning) 47, 48 (evening)
Isaiah 8:16 - 9:1
2 Peter 1:1-11
Luke 22:54-69

Today our Gospel tells the story of Peter's three denials of Jesus. On one hand, we see Peter's loyalty and courage. Following Jesus' arrest, Peter is trying to get near enough to follow the proceedings. It is risky business to be identified with someone under arrest and suspicion of treason. His accent or maybe his clothing give him away as being from Galilee, and it is well known that Jesus and his party are from Galilee. He is challenged. Three times he denies knowing Jesus. The writing is poignant: "At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter." What a moment of grief and failure. Peter went away "and wept bitterly." The questioners begin to soften the prisoner before his interrogation, beating, hazing and disorienting him. These horrors still happen.

One of the remarkable and wonderful things about our faith is the rehabilitation of Peter. Both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus on the same evening. Both were bitterly disappointed and contrite. But Judas despaired of the possibility that God's mercy and forgiveness could be as great as his failure, so in the ultimate act of control, he took his own life. Peter remained with his failure, and became a witness to the resurrection. Later Jesus came to him in a dramatic story in John's gospel and allowed him to reaffirm his love of Jesus three times. Jesus then commissioned him to leadership, and he became the de facto leader of the early church movement.

Sometime after Peter's death, we have the epistle we read from today written in his name, probably during the last decade of the first century. Peter is honored as a founder and authority for the early Christian movement.

The opening of 1 Peter has a delightful admonition to mature living. It invites us to a high calling: to "become participants of the divine nature." The chain of virtues the epistle lists is worth some reflection: "You must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection and mutual affection with love." That is not a bad list to recommit to each morning.

That passage reminds me of another chain of virtues that Paul offers in Romans 5. He opens that chapter with a foundational reminder -- we have peace because our justification to God is a free, unqualified gift through Jesus. Our faith is our simple acceptance of the gift of acceptance, "through which we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand." Paul also has a high calling: "We boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God." Then Paul offers this series of virtues: "knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us."

The two lists seem related. Each is a calling into divine union. Each rises to the ultimate -- love. Paul invites us to an approach that begins with suffering and ends with love. 1 Peter invites us into a journey that begins with faith and ends with love. You might take them as teachings for different days -- Paul for those tough days; 1 Peter for days that start well.

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

New Passovers and Immanuels

Friday, December 12, 2008 -- Week of 2 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 31 (morning) 35 (evening)
Isaiah 7:10-25
2 Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:5
Luke 22:14-30

Jesus has made careful preparations for his friends so that they may observe the Passover. The Passover is the fundamental feast of Judaism. It recalls the dramatic intervention of God that liberated Israel from bondage and slavery. Israel's escape from Egypt and journey through the wilderness into the promised land is their foundational epic. It is the God-directed pilgrimage from bondage into freedom, from slavery into inheritance, from lostness to identity as God's own people. The Passover and Exodus established the covenant of God with God's people.

Now Jesus takes the cups of wine that are part of the Passover feast and he identifies them with his own pilgrimage that is to take place through his death. "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant of my blood." Jesus breaks the bread into pieces. "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Jesus gives to his friends an interpretation of his death in the context of the Passover. A new foundational story, a new journey from bondage into freedom, from slavery into inheritance, from lostness to identity as Christ's own body.

In the tradition of the Passover Seder, time becomes malleable. "I was a wandering Aramean..." the people speak, as they enter into the ancient story themselves. It was us, you and me, who journeyed into Egypt and became an enslaved and oppressed people. Then the hand of God acted and brought us out into this happiness. Each person is to retrace the steps of our ancestors as the past becomes vividly present.

In the tradition of the Christian Eucharist, time becomes malleable. The past becomes vividly present as we take the bread and the wine, give thanks, and hear once again the words, "This is my body...; this is my blood." We enter the upper room and embrace the feast which has become our participation in the liberation of Christ's Passover, his death and resurrection.

What an irony that the first conflict that arises at that table that night is a battle for power and pride. "A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest." Jesus makes it clear with his first lesson from his table. "I am among you a one who serves." "The greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves." The new inheritance of this liberated community is the vocation of service to others. A Collect for Peace in our Daily Office prays to God that "to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom." In Christ we are liberated from sin and death and formed into a new community of thankful servant leadership.
_____

Just a couple of notes about the prophecy from Isaiah.

Beginning last Monday we shifted from the 5th century Isaiah texts to the 8th century Isaiah texts. Many of the themes are similar, but the context has some differences. Isaiah 5-12 is the oldest part of the book, containing prophecies from 740-732 BCE.

This section with the prophet using three children's names as signs of divine messages is probably a first-person memoirs from the original prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz. Today he upbraids the King Ahaz for his unwillingness to trust God or to seek a sign from God. Frightened by the threat of invasion from Israel and Aram (Syria) intended to depose him, Ahaz is planning to ally himself as a vassal of Assyria. Isaiah tries to dissuade Ahaz from his plan.

You weary mortals and God, Isaiah tells him. God will give you a sign even though you don't ask for it. A "young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (meaning "God is with us")." Before he is two years of age this threat will have passed, and these two threatening kings will have retreated with only a remnant of their army left (a reference to the name of Isaiah's child who is with him, Shear-jashub, meaning "A remnant shall return.") Trust God, not Assyria, Isaiah tells Ahaz.

In all likelihood, the child whom Isaiah names as Immanuel is his own child, like the other two children he interprets as signs. It is the father's right to confer a name upon his child. It is not impossible, however, that Isaiah references a child who is a royal heir, possibly Hezekiah who succeeded Ahaz on the throne of Judah. Later generations, after this royal dynasty ceased to rule in Jerusalem, picked up this passage and gave it messianic interpretations about a hoped for restoration of a Davidic kingship.

In all likelihood the "young woman" mentioned in the passage is Isaiah's wife. The Hebrew word is "virgin." In that day the word only meant "a woman of marriageable age."

The early Christians developed a claim about Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel's hopes for a Messiah and applied this prophecy to him, claiming that he was Immanuel and that he was born of a virgin, as the text from Isaiah foretold. This is probably one of the sources for the doctrine of the Virgin Birth.

It has led to a translation controversy. Translations that intend to teach in a way that will reinforce certain Christian interpretations will translate the word used for this mother in Isaiah 7:14 as "virgin." Translations that intend to be as faithful possible to the original meaning and context will translate it as "young woman" or "maiden."

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

The Non-Power Option

Thursday, December 11, 2008 -- Week of 2 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 37:1-18 (morning) 37:19-42 (evening)
Isaiah 7:1-9
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Luke 22:1-13

There is considerable plotting and intrigue in today's readings.

First, the setting for Isaiah's prophecy of the three children's names. The northern kingdom of Israel (capital in Samaria) was forming an alliance to oppose the rising power of Assyria in upper Mesopotamia. Israel had allied with Aram (Damascus, Syria). King Ahaz ruled the southern kingdom of Judah (capital in Jerusalem). Israel and Judah had fought one another over a territorial dispute not to long in the past. Now King Pekah of Israel sought to depose King Ahaz of Judah to put a puppet on the throne who would join the alliance against the rise of Assyria. Ahaz was outmanned and frightened.

Isaiah urged Ahaz not to be afraid and not to do something desperate, like give tribute to Assyria for protection from Israel and Aram. Isaiah used the names of three children, possibly his own, as a symbolic story to calm Ahaz's fear and dissuade him from aligning with Assyria. Isaiah brings his first child with him -- Shear-jashub, meaning "a remnant returns" -- and tells Ahaz the armies of Israel and Aram will be defeated and retreat with only a remnant of their warriors. Tomorrow Isaiah will continue the argument and use the name of a child named Immanuel, "God is with us." That's a famous passage.

King Ahaz will not follow Isaiah's counsel. Instead, he will become a vassal of Assyria. It will be a disastrous and costly decision.

In 2 Thessalonians it is hard to understand fully the setting without making some presumptions about its authorship. This section is more easily interpreted if we assume it is written sometime after Paul's ministry. One of the major difficulties the early Church faced was the delay of the expected return of Jesus. We can trace some of the ways the Church adapted to its disappointment in the changing expectations we read within the New Testament itself. The writer of 2 Thessalonians wants to counter one of the current explanations. Some Christian leaders taught that the "day of the Lord" had already happened in the resurrection of Jesus. From this context, it would seem that some leaders had endorsed that interpretation in the name of Paul. This writer says "No" -- the Lord's day has not already come. There must be some future political upheaval involving an unnamed "lawless one" and involving an unnamed person or circumstance that was restraining the lawless one. Some conflict must occur before the day of the Lord, the writer asserts. In the tradition of the Revelation of John, the writer says that the means of Jesus' triumph will be by word not by violence: "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth..."

Finally we see the plot of Judas. He conspires to betray Jesus to the authorities. The scene shifts like a spy novel, and Jesus give his disciples a code. Look for a man carrying water. (Only women carry water in his culture.) Follow him, and he will take you to the secret Passover preparations. A new Passover is being prepared. Everything will be changed.

I've long believed Judas thought he was doing something to help. I think he believed that Jesus was God's Messiah, but that Judas got impatient with the lack of progress in Jesus' mission. Most Jews expected that the Messiah would inaugurate a new kingdom in Israel, defeating the occupying foreign armies and restoring Israel to military, economic and political glory. Maybe Judas thought that if he could create a decisive conflict between Jesus and the authorities, Jesus would finally reveal and unleash his Messianic identity and powers to bring about the hoped for revolution. Judas only brought about Jesus' downfall -- his torture, suffering and death. Seeing the disaster, Judas took his own life in grief and hopelessness.

All of these are stories of trust. Trust God and not Assyria, says Isaiah. Trust my version of the end and not the others, says 2 Thessalonians. Trust Jesus' non-violent, non-militaristic leadership instead of your own expectations, says Luke. Where do we put our trust? The common thread among these readings is an invitation to embrace something more creative than the usual temptation to solve things with the most powerful option. So often we see that God is working below the radar of the obvious power-solutions. Trust three children's names, says Isaiah. Trust that Jesus will have his day, says 2 Thessalonians. Trust a vulnerable man willing to go to a cross, says Luke. Don't be co-opted by the power-option. God is still working below the scene. Trust.

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

Throwing Stones

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 -- Week of 2 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 38 (morning) 119:25-48 (evening)
Isaiah 6:1-13
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
John 7:53 - 8:11

We dive into John's gospel for a moment today to read the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus halts the punishing sin-patrol with the stunning words, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

This fragment is from an unknown source -- it is not original to John -- and some ancient texts have it in Luke's gospel after 21:25 or 21:38. Regardless of its origins, it is a compelling story.

What if no one ever threw the first stone? There would be no capital punishment. Punitive measures toward gay people would disappear. People would quit threatening others with hell. What else?
________

Scholars debate over whether or not 2 Thessalonians is written by Paul or is a later composition written in his style and name. In this opening section, we hear the author claiming that suffering is a sign of being chosen by God. He expects that such suffering will be vindicated at the last judgment. At that time God will right all wrongs and inflict "vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might..."

The good news about passages such as these is that they leave vengeance in God's hands. There is a strong Biblical tradition that says that revenge and vengeance is not a human prerogative. Who is wise and pure enough to cast first stones of revenge?

The bad news about passages such as these is that they project our vengeful desires upon God. I wonder, do we do God justice when we assume God will fulfill our darkest violent desires? In the God that Jesus points us toward we do not see a God of vengeance. The God of Jesus soaks up violence and injustice through his innocent suffering on the cross and returns only love, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." God's answer to cruelty and violence is not revenge, but resurrection.

In the anti-Islamic fervor that swelled in the wake of the September 11 attacks, a local pastor made sweeping condemnations of Muslims and the entire Islamic faith by pulling from the Koran some ugly verses directing judgment and vengeance upon non-Muslims. "See," he said to me, "they want to destroy us!" But we've got the same kind of ugly thoughts in our scriptures too. This passage in 2 Thessalonians expects "vengeance" and "the punishment of eternal destruction" upon anyone who doesn't "obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." There are Christians who are comfortable with a God who would wreak vengeance and eternal damnation upon Gandhi and the Dalai Lama. But that doesn't sound like the God of Jesus Christ to me, nor does it sound like a god who is worthy of our worship. That sounds like a tribal god, and history has had enough blood and condemnation spread in the name of its tribal deities. In Jesus, God chooses not to throw the first stone.
_________

What a morning. I haven't commented on the incredible call of Isaiah. Such a great passage. We can feel the pathos of Isaiah's frustration that his message will not be heard and his warnings will not be heeded, that his nation will blindly pursue a path that will destroy all but a holy stump of their civilization.

What are the prophets telling us today and how are we closing our ears?

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

Dire Warnings

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 -- Week of 2 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 26, 28 (morning) 36, 39 (evening)
Isaiah 5:13-17, 24-25
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Luke 21:29-38

We are in readings that are filled with admonishments and warnings. Isaiah 5-12 are the oldest part of the collection. They date from the 8th century in the days when Israel was threatened by Assyria (740-732 BCE). Like the other 8th century prophets Amos and Micah, Isaiah condemns the greed and conspicuous consumption of the wealthy. He decries their abuse of their power and how they ignore the struggles of the poor. In today's reading he speaks judgment. The nation will go into exile. The proud and powerful will be humbled and punished; the multitude and the people will be brought low.

Paul writes of an end-time ethic, urging the congregation in Thessoloniki to live with a keen sense of the imminent return of Jesus. All are to work responsibly. Help anyone who needs it. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." Listen to the words of warning from prophets and test what they say. "Hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil." Paul blesses the community as the letter closes.

And Luke's Gospel closes the section of Jesus' teaching in the Temple by taking the little parable of the fig tree as an image for the coming day of judgment. As soon as the fig sprouts its leaves, you know summer is near. He references yesterday's readings that recall Jeremiah's oracles about the destruction of the original Temple, which may also be commentary on the destruction of the Temple in Luke's day, in 70 CE. In the midst of these dire and threatening things, you can know that the kingdom of God is near. Don't get weighed down with worry or dissipation. Though hard times await, Jesus and his triumph is near.

It is not difficult to connect the warnings of the scriptures with our contemporary scene. So many of the conditions of the 8th century BCE parallel our own. We have watched for the past few decades as wealth has become more concentrated in the hands of fewer people, as greed and dishonesty has compromised the core of our economy, as the earth gives warning of its ecological stress, as access to health care shrinks and justice is applied unevenly according to who can pay, as the powerful lobby the powerful to expand their influence, as the darkness of extremism explodes into violence. Signs of judgment abound.

Like Isaiah we look for new and anointed leadership and like Luke we pray for "strength to escape all these things that will take place." We can take Paul's end-time ethic to heart. Be responsible. Care for others, especially the weak. Do good; abstain from evil. Pray. And even in the midst of threatening times, "rejoice always, ...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

The Hebrew prophets and the New Testament authors always looked at dire circumstances with an unquenchable hope in God -- God's justice and God's ultimate triumph. Even catastrophe such as exile and the Temple's destruction they could see as part of God's hand to bring renewal and justice.

How can we walk through our own hard times in faith and hope? We can accept part of it as judgment upon our greed and injustice, and we can be motivated to share in God's work of healing and transformation. That's the example our heritage gives us.

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

Slept in Today

Monday, December 8, 2008 -- Week of 2 Advent; Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:20-28

Slept in today. No morning Reflection.

Phillip

Friday, December 5, 2008 -- Week of 1 Advent; Year One
Clement of Alexandria, Priest, c. 210

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 16, 17 (morning) 22 (evening)
Isaiah 3:8-15
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Luke 20:41 - 21:4

I got adopted by a chronically homeless man. Phillip and I had spoken in passing a few times but I didn't know his name. When he got arrested for public drunkenness, part of his sentence was a thirty day treatment program. As he checked in, he told them that his payee for his Social Security disability was "the Father at the Episcopal Church." Since the rehab center would be paid from Phillip's monthly disability check, they needed to get to the payee in order to be paid. When they called me, I didn't have any idea what they were talking about.

So they told me what a payee's responsibility was, and I went down to the rehab center to meet Phillip. I remembered him when I saw him, and we began to talk about the possibility of my serving as his payee. I really liked him. We made a deal. I would take care of his check and pay for all of his necessities as long as he was sober. If he went on a drinking binge, I wouldn't pay for anything; I would just let the money accumulate in his bank account until he sobered up. It was a deal.

That started a remarkable, if sometimes turbulent relationship. Phillip became one of my best friends, and I learned so much from him.

He came to mind today when I read Jesus' observation about the poor widow who put two small copper coins into the temple treasury. "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."

I remember when Phillip gave his entire month's allowance to a family with a child. It was early in the month, too. He knew I wouldn't be happy with him. "Father, they needed it more than me. They had a little kid. I can always get by. But they need to take care of that little boy."

Phillip never worried about money, whether he would have any or enough. He didn't worry about food. He trusted that something would come up. And so he was remarkably available. He happily gave himself away. He literally would do anything for anybody. And if you paid him for helping, it was like you had given him a gift.

Phillip was absolutely generous with his money. If there was anyone who needed it more than he did, he freely gave. And from his perspective, most people needed it more than he did. "I can always get enough money to get by. I could go down the street and get $20 from people in an hour, just by asking. Maybe in twenty minutes." He had absolute confidence in his ability to get by. He didn't have to have money. So he was non-possessive. He trusted God. He also trusted his own ability to survive. He was the most generous person I've ever known. His income was $425 a month.

I'm too fearful, too calculating, too anxious and too possessive to live as freely as Phillip. But his generosity stands as a challenge to me. I'll never be as poor as Phillip. I'll never be as unattached to money as Phillip either.

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

Proud Towers

Thursday, December 4, 2008 -- Week of 1 Advent; Year One
John of Damascus, Priest, c. 760

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 936)
Psalms 18:1-20 (morning) 18:21-50 (evening)
Isaiah 2:12-22
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Luke 20:27-40

There is much that is troubling in the readings today. Isaiah has a terrifying and violent vision of God's punishment of human pride. Isaiah declares that God is opposed to "all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high." God acts to overthrow the high towers, the fortified walls, and the wealthy merchant ships. "The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low." All of our false idols -- our silver and our gold -- "shall utterly pass away."

We live in the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth. Some will argue that we are the proudest and most arrogant nation on earth. It is easy to see connections between Isaiah's words and our situation today.

Isaiah told the people of the fifth century BCE to change their ways, to repent. (That is a central message of Advent.) He told them to repent of their greed, their dishonesty and corruption, their love of luxury, and their indifference to the plight of the poor. "Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." (1:17) Isaiah tells them to follow God's agenda or they will incur God's judgment.

It doesn't take much imagination to hear Isaiah's words as we watch proud towers tremble and fall: Bear Stearns, WaMu, Lehman, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AIG, Wachovia, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Countrywide, IndyMac, GM, Ford, and Chrysler. "The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low."

There is some comfort from the Psalmist. "I love you, O God, my strength, my stronghold, my crag, and my haven. My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise. I will call upon you, O God, and so shall I be saved..."

It is the consistent message from scripture that we are to trust in God and walk in God's ways. It is the consistent message from scripture that when we trust in our own might and fail to walk in God's ways, disaster awaits.

What would Isaiah tell us to do as our high towers tremble? "Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow." That's a pretty consistent teaching throughout the Bible. Abandon greed and power. Embrace compassion and justice. What might our financial and political institutions looks like if we listened to the Biblical prophets with more respect than the financial profits?

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