No One Righteous

Friday, March 13, 2009 -- Week of 2 Lent, Year One

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 948)
Psalms 95* and 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) 73 (evening)
Jeremiah 5:1-9
Romans 2:25 - 3:18 *For the Invitatory
John 5:30-47

"Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look around and take note! Search its squares and see if you can find one person who acts justly and seeks truth." (Jeremiah 5:1)

"There is no one who is righteous, not even one." (Romans 3:10; Paul quoting Hebrew scripture)

"The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me." (John 5:36)

Jeremiah looks for one just and truthful person and can find none. Therefore, he says, catastrophe will come. He speaks of an invading enemy that will pounce on the people like a lion, a wolf, and a leopard, "because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great."

Paul says that everyone has transgressed so we are all equal in the site of God, guilty. But Paul says that God has already offered us forgiveness and reconciliation as a gift that need only be accepted. You are justified by grace through faith is the way he puts it. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.

Jesus says that the good deeds that he does testify that he is from God. If you don't believe his words, believe his good deeds.

Later on Paul and John will invite the followers of Jesus to do the same deeds that Jesus has done. Paul speaks of that as life "in Christ." John speaks of the Spirit that Jesus gives us to do good.

So we see two consequences of our injustice, lies and unrighteousness. One consequence is that when we do bad, bad stuff follows. The other consequence is that God is always ready to forgive, reconcile and heal.

I think it was John Westerhoff who said that Christianity is nothing more than making promises, and breaking promises, then making promises again, and breaking promises, then making promises again... The important part, he says, is returning to our covenant, accepting again God's forgiveness and love, then renewing our intention to walk in God's ways.

Sure, bad consequences follow in the wake of our bad behavior. Lions and wolves and leopards still claim their prey whenever we act unjustly and untruthfully. (Bears too can destroy livelihoods and wealth.) But God always invites us to turn again toward justice and right.

One more thing. Not only are we to do what is right, we are also told to recognize and acknowledge whenever anyone does what is right. Paul said that the uncircumcised who do right are better than the circumcised who do not. Jesus chides those who say they "search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life" but miss the good deeds that happen right in front of their face because they have some objection to the person doing the good. God is no respecter of persons or their religions. Anyone who does good is from God. Period.

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