Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Bad Times

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 -- Week of Proper 29
James Otis Sargent Huntington, Priest and Monk, 1935

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 995)
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123 (morning) 124, 125, 126, [127] (evening)
Zechariah 11:4-17
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
Luke 18:31-43

We don't know who the prophet is whose action is recorded in Zechariah today, but his work is dramatic. He has a great complaint against the leaders of his people. Instead of caring for the people, the leaders are exploiting them. In an act of protest, the prophet takes on the role of a shepherd, and begins what appears to be a reform campaign. "In one month I disposed of the three shepherds, for I had become impatient with them, and they also detested me."

This reforming shepherd took two shepherd's staffs, naming them "Favor" (or "pleasantness") and "Unity." But he found that the people, like sheep, were ungovernable. So he broke his staff named "Favor" and annulled his covenant. He scorns the shepherd's wages that the leaders gave to him -- thirty shekels of silver. It is the typical price for redeeming someone devoted to Temple service from their service. The prophet throws the money into the Temple treasury, thus contaminating it and indicting the Temple leaders as corrupt as well. Then the prophet breaks the second Unity staff, abandoning hope for the reunion of Israel and Judah. Again in his shepherd's clothes, he waits the arrival of yet another corrupt leader.

There have been times in our nation's history and within other organizations when the actions of leaders have seemed full of the abuses of power, corruption and exploitation. Sometimes the effect of such dysfunctional leadership is to create a completely corrupt and dysfunctional system, both leaders and followers become self-centered and destructive. There is no "Favor" or "Unity." Sometimes reform is futile. The prophet we read today lives in such a time and place.

Jesus speaks to his followers in a similar spirit in today's reading from Luke. He tells them that they will be going up to Jerusalem where "everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again." The disciples do not understand what he is talking about. How often we fail to understand the warnings of the prophets.

Yet on the road to Jerusalem, a blind man seems to understand. Calling to Jesus as the Son of David, he asks for his sight, and he is healed. There is one person who can see. Ironically, it is one whom everyone knew was blind.

Paul's letter to the Corinthians warns people of the craftiness of the wise and worldly. He encourages his congregation to build things of substance, attend to that which will endure because it has foundations grounded in God's work. Like the prophet we have read in Zechariah, Paul warns them, "Let no one boast about human leaders." What we have, we have from God; and it is everything, he says. "For all things are yours, whether ...the world or life or death or the present or the future -- all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."

It is an encouraging reminder when leaders are corrupt and systems fail and only the blind can see. Underneath everything, "all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."

Yesterday I met a man who has lost his job. After years of skillful building of a successful business, he is completely without work. He told me he has nothing but God to depend upon. The he looked at me with a beaming smile and a determined eye, and said, "And I am already thanking God for what he is bringing me."

"The world or life or death or the present or the future -- all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."

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

Monday, November 24, 2008

Leadership and Wealth

Monday, November 24, 2008 -- Week of Proper 29

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 995)
Psalms 106:1-8 (morning) 106:19-48 (evening)
Zechariah 10:1-12
Galatians 6:1-10
Luke 18:15-30

Today's readings all have something to say about leadership and our corporate life.

Zechariah speaks at a time when the political and religious leadership has been poor, "therefore the people wander like sheep; they suffer for lack of a shepherd." He speaks God's promise of restoration and deliverance. He promises that the loss and damage will be repaired and that the people will once again be secure and growing.

The letter to the Galatians reminds everyone that we bear a responsibility both for ourselves and for others. Every person must "carry their own loads" as well as "bear one another's burdens." Paul encourages them not to "grow weary in doing what is right" and to "work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith."

Finally, in Luke we have the story of Jesus' encounter with a conscientious ruler. The story is introduced by an exhortation on behalf of children. "Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." All is gift. We are invited to be as open-handed and expectant toward God as children are toward their parents.

Then a "certain ruler" arrives to ask Jesus a serious question, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" There is an exchange about the commandments. The man has followed the teaching in a life of honor and service. "There is still one thing lacking," Jesus tells him. Jesus invites him into his entourage. "Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Unlike the child, the ruler is too attached to leave his wealth behind. "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" Jesus exclaims. And I cringe. For I am wealthy.

Wealth is a snare. Possessions become a distraction and preoccupation. How much of our energy and time is spent gaining and taking care of our stuff. How much of our sense of value and security is wrapped up in our cultural symbols of value and power.

It is not clear that Jesus opposed wealth in principle. Several wealthy people such as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were attracted to him and to his movement. It appears that wealthy women helped underwrite the disciples and their needs as they traveled. Their support and generosity toward Jesus and his purposes may be models for those of us who are wealthy. They invite us to live lightly, with a profound sense generosity, especially toward the poor. A childlike attitude of joyfully receiving and giving might be another model.

In the spirit of St. Paul's words we are to live responsibly and to be willing to bear one another's burdens and to work for the good of all. In the spirit of Zechariah, we are to look ultimately toward God for our restoration, while being willing to give and to sacrifice to bring about God's purposes.

"All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own, hath we given thee."

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

Friday, November 21, 2008

Put God First

Friday, November 21, 2008 -- Week of Proper 28

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 102 (morning) 107:1-32 (evening)
Malachi 3:1-12
James 5:7-12
Luke 18:1-8

Today Malachi picks up a theme that is present in Haggai and several other prophets. Our worship of God comes first, they tell us. Trust God and honor God appropriately as your primary obligation, and all other things will fit into place.

Malachi concretizes his appeal in the people's obligation to to honor God through their tithes. The Torah established a three year process of tithing. During the first two years each family would bring 1/10th of their harvest and livestock to the feast of tabernacles. If distance made such a gift impossible, it could be converted to money. The gifts would be used especially for the festival. The third year land tithe was more like a tax and went especially to support the Temple, its worship and functionaries.

Today's passage from Malachi is among the most quoted of the Biblical verses about tithing. It sounds almost like a dare. "Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me? But you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me -- the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing."

Malachi is picking up a theme from Haggai who probably prophesied a bit earlier, during the early days of Israel's return from exile, before the Temple had been rebuilt. Haggai blamed a drought on the selfishness of the people who had looked to the rebuilding of their own family homes before caring for God's Temple. Take care of God first, and you will be blessed, he said.

Some have said that Jesus' words, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt. 6:33 KJV) picks up this same prophetic tradition. Jesus speaks these words as the punch line to his sermon about worry and anxiety over material things. These priorities are not unlike the Great Commandment that summarizes all of the law with the call of love. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Many Christians have taken the tradition if thithing into their own practice. Many will take the first ten percent of their income and commit that portion as a gift to God, their "first fruits." Others simply set aside a tenth as a thank offering without that necessarily being the first ten percent. Our diocese structures its stewardship on this Biblical tradition. Our bishop asks every member to give ten percent to the church, every church to give ten percent to the diocesan ministry, and the diocese commits ten percent to the national ministry of the Episcopal Church.

It seems to me that it violates the spirit of Jesus to turn the tradition of the tithe into a law or a legalistic duty. For me, the practice of tithing -- like that of daily prayer and Bible reading or weekly eucharist -- is a joyful and disciplined response to God's goodness. Tithing is a measured and traditional way to thank God for whatever material blessings I enjoy.

I don't believe God is going to punish me if I skip my prayer or reading or worship or giving, but I know I will in some way be impoverished.

It takes practice, consciousness and surrender to place God first and to trust that other things will fall into place. But that's what the prophets dare us to do.

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

Thursday, November 20, 2008

James, to us

Thursday, November 20, 2008 -- Week of Proper 28
Edmund, King of East Anglia, Martyr, 870

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 105:1-22 (morning) 105:23-45 (evening)
Malachi 2:1-16
James 4:13 - 5:6
Luke 17:20-37

There is a haunting warning in today's reading from James. He addresses the wealthy. (From a world-perspective, that's nearly all of us here in this country.) James expects misery to come to us. "Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you..."

James has already spoken of the virtue of humility. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James has already spoken of the virtue generosity. He has commended those who respond compassionately to the needs of others. "If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,' and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?" James has already endorsed equity and a special regard for the poor. (Chapter 2)

He holds the wealthy and powerful to a high ethic. They are responsible for the well-being of others, James says. He tells the rich that the rust of their gold and silver "will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire." He condemns the injustice of their economy. Like the prophets of old, James says the cries of those who have been defrauded will reach God's ears. "You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." James speaks judgment to the wealthy. That's us. James says that God holds us responsible for the well-being of others, especially the poor.

I was in a conversation earlier this week with a friend who teaches sociology at the U. of A. He was telling me about research that they have done to calculate what kind of income it takes to live here (in Washington, Benton, & Madison Counties). To afford a two bedroom home or apartment, one would need to work 48 hours a week at $10.50 an hour. Someone on minimum wage would need to work 80 hours a week to afford the same apartment -- double the full-time benchmark of 40 hours a week. To live in two bedroom dwelling, someone in our community needs to earn between $13.30 and $14.08 an hour according to their research. That would be what some call a "living wage."

As I read this passage from the epistle, I wonder what James would say to 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

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Away Today: Here are the Readings

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 -- Week of Proper 28
Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary, 1231


Today's Reading for the Daily Office
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 (morning) 119:121-144 (evening)
Malachi 1:1, 6-14
James 3:13 - 4:12
Luke 17:11-19


I am away at a workshop early this morning. Unable to write a Morning Reflection today.

Away Today; Here are the Readings

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 -- Week of Proper 28
Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, 680

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 97, 99, [100] (morning) 94, 95 (evening)
Habakkuk 3:1-10(11-15)16-18
James 3:1-12
Luke 17:1-10

I am away at a workshop early this morning. Unable to write a Morning Reflection today and tomorrow.

Lowell

Monday, November 17, 2008

Active Faith

Monday, November 17, 2008 -- Week of Proper 28
Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 89:1-18 (morning) 89:19-52 (evening)
Habakkuk 2:1-4, 9-20
James 2:14-26
Luke 16:19-31

Habakkuk wonders about whether God's rule of justice is really effective in a world which appears so unjust. In chapter one, Habakkuk issued two complaints toward God. The first complaint is that the national leaders are corrupt, motivated only by the accumulation of wealth and power. God answers Habakkuk's complaint saying that God will send a foreign army to depose the current leadership. Habakkuk complains a second time after the foreign army, God's chosen instrument of judgment, has invaded and conquered. They are as bad as the evil ones they replaced. Will God respond? Will God administer justice?

He opens his words today: "I will stand at my watchpost, and ...keep watch to see what he... will answer concerning my complaint." God's answer: "There is still a vision for the appointed time... If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay."

Verse 4 seems to speak the core of the message: "Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith." Their is a translation footnote that translates "faith" as "faithfulness." The Hebrew word means "firmness, steadfastness, fidelity." The righteous live by their firm, steadfast, fidelity and faithfulness.

From that bedrock of faithfulness, Habakkuk speaks powerfully toward the proud, powerful and wealthy. "Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses... The very stones will cry out from the wall... Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity! ...The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Alas for you who make your neighbors drink, pouring out your poison until they are drunk... You will be sated with contempt instead of glory... What use is an idol...? Alas for you who say to the wood 'Wake up!' ...See, it is gold and silver plated, and there is no breath in it at all. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him!"

Habakkuk lives in a time of injustice and the misuse of power. The wealthy pursue their own gain; there is violence and arrogance abounding. Habakkuk speaks judgment to the powerful. He waits upon a firm foundation, steadfast fidelity toward God.

James lives with people who make a show of their belief, but their actions are lacking. "Show me your faith apart from you works, and I by my works will show you my faith... Even the demons believe -- and shudder... Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."

Jesus tells of a complacent man, living in comfort and luxury, oblivious to the suffering of the poor just outside his own vision. When he realizes God's judgment upon him, he cries out in agony.

These are images of faith. In our era, faith has been dominated by the idea that it is mostly about belief, "faith" as assenting to a particular content that one believes in. That is not what faith is in any of these stories, or most of the Bible. Marcus Borg uses four Latin words to expand our understanding of faith: assensus (belief); fiducia (trust); fidelitus (loyalty); visio (vision).

Habakkuk has a vision of trust in God that prompts his steadfast loyalty. James says that faith is a verb, acted out in deeds that are faithful to God's vision. Jesus gives a vision of what loyalty to God rather than toward one's one interests looks like. All three of these expressions of faith have practical effect -- economic and social impact.

It's not so much about what you believe, it is about your loyal, active trust in a vision that belongs to God.

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

Friday, November 14, 2008

Generosity

Friday, November 14, 2008 -- Week of Proper 27
Consecration of Samuel Seabury, First American Bishop, 1784

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 88 (morning) 91, 92 (evening)
Joel 2:28 - 3:8
James 1:16-27
Luke 16:1-9

James opens today with these words. "Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." Then James reminds us that we are gifts of God. God "gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures." As God's gifts, we are made in God's image and called to be like God in the world. We are to be generous in our giving, reflective of the generosity which is God's essential nature.

James closes this section with an admonition to purity, especially purity in speech and action. His final sentence today is this: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." He makes concrete the appeal to generosity, as he encourages us toward a high vision.

Generosity was a characteristic quality of Jesus' life and ministry. He was generous in his welcome and hospitality. He represented God as one who forgives extravagantly. He made debt forgiveness and daily bread a cornerstone of his life and teaching.

The parable of the dishonest manager is another of Jesus' subversive stories that seem to shock us into a new paradigm. The story praises a manager who forgives debts with unlawful extravagance in order to "make friends" for himself.

William Herzog writes this in his commentary about this parable: "The parable began with the usual social scripts: owners distrust managers; peasants hate managers; managers cheat both tenants and owners. But by means of his outrageous actions, the manager manages to reverse all these scripts so that, at the close of the parable, peasants are praising the master, the master commends the manager, and the manager has relieved the burden on the peasants and kept his job."

Out of this sad story of wrong-doing, came something that looks almost like a piece of the kingdom of heaven, because the master had wiped off the debts and relieved the burdens of the debtors. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." It is a glimpse of another order -- one in which forgiveness of debt would be more than a petition in a prayer. A sorry and predictable tale of woe becomes a scene of rejoicing. Generosity -- even the self-serving generosity of a dishonest businessman -- generosity begets generosity.

________________

I quoted from a sermon from 2004 for part of this reflection. The whole sermon text is found at the following link: http://www.stpaulsfay.org//lg91904.html
Click for sermon about the dishonest manager

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

Generosity

Friday, November 14, 2008 -- Week of Proper 27
Consecration of Samuel Seabury, First American Bishop, 1784

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 88 (morning) 91, 92 (evening)
Joel 2:28 - 3:8
James 1:16-27
Luke 16:1-9

James opens today with these words. "Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." Then James reminds us that we are gifts of God. God "gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures." As God's gifts, we are made in God's image and called to be like God in the world. We are to be generous in our giving, reflective of the generosity which is God's essential nature.

James closes this section with an admonition to purity, especially purity in speech and action. His final sentence today is this: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." He makes concrete the appeal to generosity, as he encourages us toward a high vision.

Generosity was a characteristic quality of Jesus' life and ministry. He was generous in his welcome and hospitality. He represented God as one who forgives extravagantly. He made debt forgiveness and daily bread a cornerstone of his life and teaching.

The parable of the dishonest manager is another of Jesus' subversive stories that seem to shock us into a new paradigm. The story praises a manager who forgives debts with unlawful extravagance in order to "make friends" for himself.

William Herzog writes this in his commentary about this parable: "The parable began with the usual social scripts: owners distrust managers; peasants hate managers; managers cheat both tenants and owners. But by means of his outrageous actions, the manager manages to reverse all these scripts so that, at the close of the parable, peasants are praising the master, the master commends the manager, and the manager has relieved the burden on the peasants and kept his job."

Out of this sad story of wrong-doing, came something that looks almost like a piece of the kingdom of heaven, because the master had wiped off the debts and relieved the burdens of the debtors. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." It is a glimpse of another order -- one in which forgiveness of debt would be more than a petition in a prayer. A sorry and predictable tale of woe becomes a scene of rejoicing. Generosity -- even the self-serving generosity of a dishonest businessman -- generosity begets generosity.

________________

I quoted from a sermon from 2004 for part of this reflection. The whole sermon text is found at the following link: http://www.stpaulsfay.org//lg91904.html
Click for sermon about the dishonest manager

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

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Desire

Thursday, November 13, 2008 -- Week of Proper 27

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms [83], or 23, 27 (morning) 85, 86 (evening)
Joel 2:21-27
James 1:1-15
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

"...one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death." (James:1:14-15)

Some have said that distorted desire is the root of all evil. Since money is the currency that empowers us to buy so many of our desires, the thought is not too far from 1 Timothy's assertion that "love of money is the root of all evil." James' examination of desire seems to communicate something basic. It starts with the enticement and lure of temptation. Our desire connects with the temptation. "When that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death."

Luke illustrates the maxim beautifully with Jesus' story of the Prodigal Son. A younger son is enticed by the power and entertainment that he anticipates from his eventual inheritance. ("...one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it.") In violation of custom and convention, he asks his father for his inheritance now. In the eyes of that culture, his request is like saying to his father, "Drop dead." ("...when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin...") The father consents, and the younger son leaves for a distant country where "he squandered his property in dissolute living" and ends up feeding the pigs. ("...sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.") For Jews, a pig is an unclean animal. This failed young man is starving. "He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating."

Now the story shows us the way home.

The young man comes to himself, the text says, and reasons that he would be better off as one of his father's hired hands. As he practices his speech to his father, it is a mixed confession. He sounds a note of contrition, "I am no longer worthy...", but he is also pretty desperate.

He doesn't need the speech. When the father sees him from far off, the father runs to him. (Picture a noble aristocrat clothed in a long robe made for leisurely movement, his clothing flying indelicately as he runs shamelessly toward the beloved prodigal.) He clothes the son with his best robe and gives him a ring, probably the seal that conveys the power to negotiate and enter into legal agreements. There will be an extravagant feast. No scolding. No punishment. No demotion in status.

From the perspective of the obedient elder son, no justice. He refuses to join the celebration. Out of his own sense of self-dignity, he exiles himself from the party. He is too good to participate in such things. What is his desire? Maybe he wants a certain status and dignity. He has been obedient and believes he is due something. Ironically, his desire is for what he already has been given, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours," the father tells him. But he is unable to join in the rejoicing. Maybe he desires justice -- the punishment of those who do wrong. His desire gives birth to sin, and he exiles himself from the feast that is always his and from the intimacy of his loving father.

The story ends on an ironic note. The good, obedient son is left outside, estranged. The wanton, wasteful sinner is inside feasting with the father.

Which son am I? Which son are you? Maybe a little of both.

What desires are conceiving birth and drawing us toward death? Wisdom traditions tell us to quench our desires, that is the path toward enlightenment and peace, they say. Can we stop the deadly process at conception? What would it mean to let go of desire?

What if the younger son had let go of his desire for power and entertainment? What if the elder had let go of his desire to be right and to be so recognized? Well, we wouldn't have this great story, would we?

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

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Finding the Lost

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 -- Week of Proper 27
Charles Simeon, Priest 1836

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 993)
Psalms 119:97-120 (morning) 81, 82 (evening)
Joel 2:12-19
Revelation 19:11-21
Luke 15:31-10

Luke 15 is one of the most compelling chapters in the Bible. It opens with grumbling. The observant religious people, those who are earnestly trying to do right, complain that Jesus is so lax and complacent toward the non-observant and those who do not even try to lead a righteous life. "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." In that culture, to sit at table with another person was a public acknowledgment of your acceptance and approval of that person as well as a lifetime covenant of friendship and loyalty. To eat with another was to identify with that person. Jesus conveyed all of that meaning in the radical hospitality of his table fellowship.

Jesus offers the grumblers three stories -- the lost sheep, the lost coin and (tomorrow's reading) the prodigal son. All three stories are metaphors of God's extravagant love, especially for those who are lost and alienated.

It is good to retain these images of God's searching love and compassion for the lost as we read the end of chapter 19 of Revelation. We have finished a courtroom scene where the victims of the empire's greed and violence have been vindicated. Now the judge appears upon a white horse -- the rider called "Faithful and True." He is "clothed in a robe dipped in blood" -- the eucharistic vestment of the blood of the cross. His "name is called The Word of God... From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations..." Once again we learn it is by witness, by the word that comes from the mouth, that the victory over evil will be accomplished.

John has an image of the two armies ready for battle. But there is no battle described. The beast and the false prophet are captured and "thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur." (An image of hell as well as an image of purification, such as refining gold through fire.) Then the rider on the horse slays the enemies entirely by his word and testimony. The images are violent (killed by the sword), but the sword comes from the rider's mouth; he is the Word of God who triumphs by his testimony, by his martyrdom. The same Jesus who leaves the ninety nine in the wilderness to search for the one lost, and to rejoice when the lost is found.

We close with the troubling image of "the birds that fly in midheaven," who are invited to "the great supper of God." They are coming "to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders -- flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great." After the rider called Faithful and True has slain the evil by his word, there is a different kind of eucharistic feast. Just as the flesh of Jesus is consumed in Christian worship, becoming the bread of life, we see this alternative "great supper of God" where the effects of evil and wickedness are removed from the earth by the birds from midheaven who devour their flesh.

Again, this is not to be taken literally. This is spiritual imagery. We are left with the confidence that we can struggle against the lures of luxury, pride and violence that are the by-products of the empire. Our witness joins Christ's witness, which will defeat these powers that assault our faithfulness and truth. The Word of God will triumph, in us and in the world. Stand fast and persevere.

The prophet Joel also encourages us to courage in the face of catastrophe. Return to God with lamentation, fasting and repentance, Joel tells us, and God will restore us. The lost are found.

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

Friday, November 07, 2008

The Whore

Friday, November 7, 2008 -- Week of Proper 26
Willibrord, Archbishop of Utrecht, Missionary to Frisia, 739

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 991)
Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) 73 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus* 50:1, 11-24
Revelation 17:1-18
Luke 13:31-35

* found in the Apocrypha; also called the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach, or just Sirach

One of the many meanings of the very multivalent word "faith" is "faithful." To be faithful is to cast one's lot with another and to be with and for that one in a dependable, loyal and affectionate way. The opposite of this kind of faith is unfaithfulness, or adultery. Several of the prophets speak of Israel's unfaithfulness to God using this kind of language, especially Hosea, who used the metaphor of his own wife's adultery as an accusation against God's unfaithful people.

Today John uses that prophetic tradition to introduce a new character, the great whore. We learn that she is identified with "the great city that rules over the kings of the earth" -- Rome. She wears the colors of the Roman senatorial class. Like Babylon, Rome destroyed Jerusalem. We read descriptions of such destruction and violence in this chapter. It may the that the whore also represents the adultery of Jerusalem, for the beast attacks and destroys her as well. It is the kind of violence that the Empire dishes out, violence similar to the visions of destruction that are the fate of the Empire because "It is what they deserve!" as we read in chapter 16.

The beast who "was, and is not and is to come" is often interpreted to be Nero, who was renowned for his tyranny and extravagance. After his suicide the legend spread that he was not actually dead and would return to Rome. We know of at least three Nero impostors who led unsuccessful rebellions. The description "was, and is not and is to come" could also refer to the Empire and its succession of Ceasars. The satiric blasphemy of the statement shines in contrast to the vision of the triumphant Jesus as the heavenly Son of Man in chapter one, who speaks, "I am the first and the last, and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades."

The numbering of the kings -- seven kings, of whom five have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain only a little while -- means that the number of the present emperor is always six. (The number of mark of the beast -- 666 -- can be calculated as the Greek name for Nero, Kaisar Neron, transposed into Hebrew.) Six is a number of incompletion and imperfection, contrasted with seven, the sum of three (the spiritual order) and four (the created order).

The beast and the kings "will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." God's people are those who are not adulterous, but faithful. They will triumph, but not by violence. The victory is the victory of the Lamb.

We are called to be faithful lovers -- to show steadfast love and attention to our God, and not to allow ourselves to be tempted by the lures of that which would distract our love. The description of the whore is pretty cinematic. It is an apt metaphor for the lure of wealth, fame, celebrity, power, extravagance and luxury. These are the things of spiritual adultery. Jesus said it more simply, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Who, or what, do we treasure. There our heart is drawn. Faithfully or unfaithfully.

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

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Honor for the Little Ones

Thursday, November 6, 2008 -- Week of Proper 26
William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1944

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 991)
Psalms [70], 71 (morning) 74 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus* 44:1-15
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30

* found in the Apocrypha; also called the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach, or just Sirach

Where is the honor?

Ben Sira begins his famous list today. But as he begins, he mentions "others (of whom) there is no memory; they have perished as though they had never existed... But these also were godly men, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten... Their offspring will continue forever, and their glory will never be blotted out... (T)heir name lives on generation after generation."

Though Ben Sira will mention by name only those leaders who hold religious and political office, he recognizes the honor and praises accorded to those anonymous lesser ones who were good people.

Jesus speaks often of these "little ones." Today his images of God's reign are images of the hidden and small things that have great effect -- the mustard seed and the yeast. The latter image is of particular interest. Yeast is a symbol of corruption and uncleanness. ("Beware of the yeast of the the Pharisees.") And three measures of flour is a huge amount -- 50 or 60 pounds of flour. It is the recipe for the Temple bread. A peasant woman in her little kitchen puts a bit of yeast into 50 pounds of flour!? Remarkable. Yet out of this corruption spreading through excess, a multitude might be fed and a Temple prerogative broken open for the little ones.

Jesus frequently turns things around. He often reverses the expected world order and makes things upside down. There was a contemporary argument raging among the rabbis of his day. Will many be saved or will few? Someone asks his opinion. "Strive to enter through the narrow door," Jesus replies. Sounds like he's taking a stand with the party of the few. But then after he has scolded the ones who asked him the question (these questions always get asked by people who are pretty certain that they are among the righteous few), he pictures a kingdom feast where "people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God." The whole world gets in. "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." The honor gets reversed. These confident ones may get shoved to the back of the line as the yeasty multitudes of unclean folks get pushed up to the front, but even these last get into the feast.
_______

Just a note about Revelation. We're back to the Ghost of Christmas Future. John gives us an exaggerated vision of the ancient plagues of Egypt, now visited upon the Roman Empire. "It is what they deserve!" cries the angel. The consequences of empire are disease, death, demonic darkness, and environmental degradation -- plagues. They assemble for battle at a place called Harmagedon. (Hebrew for Mount Magedon.) It is a place that doesn't exist on any map; this is spiritual geography. (Some have tried to connect it with Megiddo, but that is a plain, not a mountain.)

When the seventh and last angel pours the bowl into the air, we hear the voice from the cross: "It is done!" ("It is finished.") There will be no war. There is never a war in the book of Revelation. It is already over. The victory is the cross of Christ. The only blood is his. The weapons are the sword of the mouth of the Lamb and the testimony/witness of the martyrs.

These are heightened spiritual images calling Christians away from the lures of Empire -- the excess of luxury and consumption; the violence and oppression of great power. Like Dickens writing to the Victorian age through the vivid dreams of Scrooge, John writes to the Church in the age of Empire through vivid images with connections to the old stories of Moses and Egypt.

Once again, it is the little ones against the powers. God is on the side of the little ones, John tells 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

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Blind to the Good

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 -- Week of Proper 26

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 991)
Psalms 72 (morning) 11:73-96 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus* 43:23-33
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17

* found in the Apocrypha; also called the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach, or just Sirach

She had been bent over for eighteen years. She had suffered a crippling ailment for so long. After that many years, these things can seem normal and intractable. Eighteen years is the time it takes a child to grow from first grade through high school. It is close to a generation.

Jesus sets her free from her ailment. "When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God."

What relief. What hope. The future opens to new possibility. For so long -- burdened, bent down, unable to look forward, inflexible, marked by others as broken and disabled. Now she can stand up straight and face the world with full stature.

But some people can't see it. Or they see it and find something to object to. Some people can't recognize the good. Their worldview blocks their vision of the real. The leader of the synagogue speaks for them. He is indignant. Jesus cured this woman on the sabbath. That opens up a host of energies.

This leader has been the protector of the sabbath. The sabbath is a good thing, a gift from God. The gift of rest for one day of every weekly cycle. The sabbath had become an institution, with rules and regulations about what is acceptable and unacceptable on the sabbath. The synagogue leader believes that to lay hands upon someone and to heal them is work. Thou shalt not work on the sabbath. He is certain about these things. So certain, that he is furious with Jesus' action. He is blind to the good thing that has happened right in front of his face. His ideals, his values, his highest aspirations for himself and his community make him unable to rejoice that this woman has been freed from her eighteen year bondage.

Jesus offers him an "out." Deuteronomy 22:1-4 commands that we rescue a neighbor's wandering cattle or one that falls into threat. Sabbath interpreters had said that such a rescue was allowable on the sabbath. They also said it is okay to water your livestock on the sabbath. Jesus suggests, if you can act on the sabbath with such compassion for an ox or donkey, shouldn't the same compassion be shown to this daughter of Abraham?

It says that when Jesus said this, "his opponents were put to shame." I wonder about that. Was their shame the remorse that changes them? Were they able to see anew, and be glad? Or was it a bitter shame? The shame that makes them want to strike back and get even. Did their anger at Jesus' freeing this woman from eighteen years of suffering get even harder, so that they will now turn their energy toward the darkness. Instead of defending something good -- the sabbath -- will they now shift to attack what they believe is bad -- this sabbath healer who has shamed them?

Not everyone can see the good and rejoice in it. Even this event of liberating a woman who has been bent down and burdened for eighteen years is laden with controversy. The misinterpretation can become ever more exaggerated. What starts as a debate between competing values sometimes can turn personal and ugly. This is the kind of thing that got Jesus killed.

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

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Bless What There Is For Being

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 -- Week of Proper 26

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 991)
Psalms 61, 62 (morning) 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus* 43:1-22
Revelation 14:14 - 15:8
Luke 13:1-9

* found in the Apocrypha; also called the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach, or just Sirach

Today Ben Sira praises the whole of the created universe, in which, by God's word "all things hold together." In Revelation the Son of Man fills the earth with Eucharist, his sickle gathering the ripe grapes which are "trodden outside the city" (an allusion to the cross) where the wine of Christ's sacrifice covers the wholeness (the symbolic number 200 miles = 1,600 stadia = the whole earth). In Luke Jesus reflects on the suffering of the innocent and says they were not punished because they "were worse offenders." Then he calls all to repentance.

These themes remind me of a passage from David Steindl-Rast's book "Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness." He writes:

Our heart's most comprehensive vision shows us that all is gift -- blessing. And, in response our heart's most spontaneous action is thanksgiving -- blessing.

But here my ...question arises. What if I cannot recognize the given as a blessing? What if it is not sunshine that pours down on us, but hailstones like hammer-blows? What if it is acid rain? Here again, the gift within the gift is opportunity. I have the opportunity, for example, to do something about that acid rain, face the facts, inform myself about the causes, go to their roots, alert others, band together with them for self-help, for protest. By taking each opportunity as it is offered, I show myself grateful. But my response will not be full unless I respond also to the ever-present opportunity to praise.

W.H. Auden has helped me see this by his poem "Precious Five," especially by its last stanza. " I could," says Auden there,

Find reasons fast enough
To face the sky and roar
In anger and despair
At what is going on,
Demanding that it name
Whoever is to blame:
The sky would only wait
Till all my breath was gone
And then reiterate
As if I wasn't there
That singular command
I do not understand
Bless what there is for being,
Which has to be obeyed, for
What else am I made for,
Agreeing or disagreeing?

To bless whatever there is, and for no other reason but simply because it is -- that is our raison d'etre; that is what we are made for as human beings. This singular command is engraved in our heart. Whether we understand this or not matters little. Whether we agree or disagree makes no difference. And in our heart of hearts we know it.

No matter how hard you strike a bell, it will ring. What else is it made for? Even under the hammer blows of fate the heart rings true. The human heart is made for universal praise. As long as we pick and choose, making praise depend on our approval, we are not yet responding from the heart. When we find our heart, we find that core of our being that is attuned to reality. And reality is praiseworthy. With clear vision the heart sees the ultimate meaning of all: blessing. And with clear intent the heart responds with the ultimate purpose of life: blessing." (p. 80-82)


Bless what there is, for being.

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