Death

Monday, June 1, 2009 -- Week of Proper 4, Year One
Justin, Martyr at Rome, c. 167

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 968)
Psalms 41, 52 (morning) 44 (evening)
Deuteronomy 11:13-19
2 Corinthians 5:11 - 6:2
Luke 17:1-10

My spirituality teacher in seminary used to say, "My best days are those when I die first thing in the morning."

My sense is that he was saying that in his early morning time of prayer, his practice was primarily one of letting go. He would surrender his sense of self-centeredness, including any sin or failure that may have stuck to him. He would let go of his pride and his agenda. He would empty himself entirely in order to open himself as a vessel for God's love and purpose. Without attachment to self, to family, to career, to knowledge, to things, to anything -- he would let himself die.

Having died, he was then open to receive the new day as an exquisite and surprising gift. Everything was new. Colors, sounds, faces, work. It was all a wonderful gift to someone who had buried his old life and been born into a new world.

Paul writes in today's reading: "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!"

In Luke's gospel, Jesus' teaching to his disciples takes this work of dying even further. It seems that dying is not only a daily exercise, but in some sense it is the work of every moment. Jesus tells them "if another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive." To let go of another's offenses toward you is like dying. It is releasing all attachment to the things of the self, except one's attachment to Christ, whose gifts of love and acceptance become everything. Nothing else is needed, other than the exquisite love of Christ.

We go back to Paul. "In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us." The NRSV footnote offers an equally acceptable alternate translation: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself."

There is something reconciling about death. You give up the past and its claims and debts. You surrender everything, for there is no more "You."

There is something liberating about death and resurrection. Life begins anew. But this time it is life given to us by Christ. Nothing needs to be earned. Nothing needs to be retained. All is gift. Freely given life, grounded in abundant love. So what if someone sins against you seven times. There no "there" there to take offense or to be offended. There is only Christ. Christ who enlivens us; Christ who lives in us.

One last word from Paul: "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them."

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas