Light and Warmth

Monday, February 2, 2009 -- Week of 4 Epiphany, Year One
The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer)

EITHER the readings for Monday of 4 Epiphany (p. 946)
Psalms 56, 57, [58] (morning) 64, 65 (evening)
Isaiah 51:17-23
Galatians 4:1-11
Mark 7:24-37

OR the readings for The Presentation (p. 997)
Morning: Psalms 42, 43 / 1 Samuel 2:1-10 / John 8:31-36
Evening: Psalms 48, 87 / Haggai 2:1-9 / 1 John 3:1-8

I chose the readings for the Presentation

Yesterday we chose to take the opportunity to transfer today's feast of the Presentation for our Sunday observance. Part of our motivation was so we could bless some new candlesticks for our altar, given in memory of Harrison Butler and Marshall Carlisle by the team who shared ushering duties with them. The feast of the Presentation is also known as "Candlemas," because of the words of old man Simeon, who took Jesus into his arms at the Temple and said that Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles." It is a traditional day for the blessing of candles.

After a week when most of our area was darkened by an ice storm that cut off electricity for most people, the images of candle and light are particularly significant. For a few nights our illumination was entirely by candelight; for a few days our source of warmth was entirely by fire. It is easier to feel in our bones the meaning of phrases about bringing light into the dark and warmth into the cold.

I thought about many of the people I often have lunch with at Community Meals and who I meet through our Seven Hills homeless ministry. Some of them live in the woods nearby in tents and under tarps. It takes great energy and some ingenuity to thrive in such conditions. Several times I remembered a five-day period in Mississippi when the city water system froze. That was much harder.

In some ways, the storm and electrical shut down was not much of a change for the homeless. It wasn't as cold or wet as lots of winter storms. It would have been very threatening to be under trees, however, when limbs are breaking. I remember several of the thuds that landed on our roof. What would that do to tents, plywood and tarps? A number of the homeless found places in the temporary shelters. I hear that caused a bit of anxiety because that's not the clientele that the temporary shelters intended to serve. They expected to help people who couldn't stay in their homes. I got a call from one of the good people working in one of those temporary services; he was wondering about how to approach the problem of the chronically homeless taking advantage of the shelter services that were intended for the temporarily homeless.

How do we find light in our darkness; warmth in our cold? Over an over the scripture uses those images to describe God's relationship with us in Christ. Christ is the light of the world; the light overcomes the darkness. God's Holy Spirit is a flaming fire that brings energy and life; the Spirit warms our cold and frozen hearts.

But it's more than sweetness and light. The Song of Hannah which the Daily Office gives us to read on this feast of the Presentation is a piece of revolutionary politics. It is a psalm that expects a reversal of power, when "the bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil." It is a psalm that celebrates a God who "raises up the poor from the dust ...to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor." Historically the self-sufficient have tended to need God's light and strength less than those who are desperate.

Our hope is for light and warmth for all. Maybe the experience of dark and coldness will warm our hearts and enlighten our minds to do the work of community necessary to see that all are cared for.

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