No Rest for the Weary

Tuesday, July 29, 2009 -- Week of Proper 12, Year One
Johann Sebastian, Bach, 1750; George Frederick Handel, 1759; and Henry Purcell, 1695; Composers

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 976)
Psalms 61, 62 (morning) 68:1-20(21-23)24-36 (evening)
2 Samuel 3:6-21
Acts 16:6-15
Mark 6:30-46

The passage that opens our gospel reading seems striking to me. Earlier Jesus had sent the disciples out two by two, traveling light, to announce God's reign, to cast out demons, and to anoint and heal the sick. Now they return to tell Jesus of their work and their travel. They are tired, "For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." Jesus tells them to "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." Well earned rest. Maybe even a retreat. Get away for a while and recharge the batteries. They go by boat "to a deserted place by themselves."

But it doesn't work out. People see them leaving and arrive by foot ahead of them. Instead of some quiet down-time, Jesus and the disciples meet another needy crowd. Here's the amazing part. Jesus "had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things."

What does it take for him to react that way? For one, he had to hold very lightly any expectations that he may have had. He taught his disciples to travel light -- "take nothing ...except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money..." It is also important to travel light spiritually. No expectations, no assumptions, no sense that you deserve better than you actually get. Gerald May says "Expectations are the long arm of desire, reaching forward in time and attempting to force reality to produce what one wants." (Simply Sane, p. 108) Expectations are another form of pride, mixed with magic -- "I can make the future be what I want it to be."

It takes trust to let go of expectations and to let God bring to you whatever is coming next. When you are very tired and the next thing is more work, another challenge, that takes even more trust. When you are out of gas, you have to turn to God and let God's energy do the work for you.

Seeing with the eye of God must be key. Instead of seeing the needy, demanding crowd as another, unending demand on his limited energy; instead of thinking about how tired he was and how unfair it is that his anticipated rest has been interrupted -- Jesus reacted with compassion, the heart of God. Only out of the heart of God will come the energy to meet this crowd with something that is not colored by resentfulness.

Jesus gives us a lesson for every tiring day. No expectations. Accept what is given. See it with the eye of God, with compassion. Turn to God for energy. Let God's heart motivate, move and energize your response. No matter how little you may think you have left to give, God's heart is infinite.

The feeding of the multitudes teaches the same lesson more graphically. We've only got five loaves and two fish! It's enough for God.
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Just a moment from the story of Paul's arrival in Macedonia, bringing the gospel onto the continent of Europe for the first time. The story says they "went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer." There they met Lydia, a prosperous independent merchant. They will establish their first congregation in her home.

When I took a tour following Paul's journey, we stopped at a place outside Philippi that is the traditional location of Paul's meeting Lydia. It is a place where the narrow river (we would call it a stream) widens a bit, forming easy access under some shade trees. I could see that pivotal encounter in my minds eye. The location was a natural place for baptism, and nearby is a church, with a baptismal font in its very center. It commemorates the baptism of Lydia, the first European Christian. I remember the deep feeling of being there, and the scene comes back to me whenever I read this passage.
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One other note. Often when I read passages like the list of David's first six sons, each from a different wife, it strikes me how ironic it is that so many people point to scripture to defend a belief that marriage is strictly between one man and one woman. Marriage, and intimacy, has a rich and varied history. Often marriage was a matter of power and property. Abner left the service of Saul's son when he had the gumption to have a relationship with the king's concubine, which could be interpreted as a potential challenge to his rule. David makes Abner's defection to his side conditional on his returning Saul's daughter Michal to David as wife, another claim to royal privilege. Biblical family values. Complicated subject.
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Note: one of our new observances from "Holy Women, Holy Men." Bach, Handel and Purcell. A day to celebrate music and musicians.

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