New Vision

Friday, August 14, 2009 -- Week of Proper 14, Year One
Jonathan Myrick Daniels, Seminarian and Martyr, 1965

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 978)
Psalms 102 (morning) 107:1-32 (evening)
2 Samuel 15:19-37
Acts 21:37 - 22:16
Mark 10:46-52

One of Mark's themes is the blindness of the apostles. Though they are with Jesus day and night, they constantly misinterpret his mission and misunderstand his purpose. Yesterday's story of James and John asking for preferential treatment illustrates the point. Jesus tells them that to follow him is to follow the way of service and sacrifice.

But today we meet someone who understands, someone who sees Jesus more clearly than the disciples. He is the blind beggar Bartimaeus. He identifies Jesus with a Messianic title, "Son of David." Those are dangerous words. Here, in the shadow of Jerusalem, speaking Messianic titles out loud can provoke quick arrest. The crowd tries to silence Bartimaeus.

Jesus asks him to speak. "What do you want me to do for you?" Now that's a question. We could pause right here and ask ourselves how we might answer that question. If Jesus were standing before you, looking you in the eye and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" -- what would you say?

Bartimaeus knows what he wants. "My teacher, let me see again." It is a bold answer. It sounds impossible. Blind people don't just see again. But Jesus answers him, "Go, your faith has made you well." That trust, the deep trust that Bartimaeus expressed in Jesus brings him his sight, his vision. He gets up and follows Jesus.

The story is meant for us. With deep trust in Jesus, not in our own privilege or power, we will be given vision. We will be able to see enough to follow him. What we know about his path, is that it leads to the cross.

We have another story of healing from blindness in the reading from Acts. Paul has been roughed up and arrested. When he's finally allowed to speak, he tells his story.

A little back story first. What Paul has been doing is controversial. Paul has been traveling to Jewish synagogues around Asia Minor and Greece. In those synagogues he has told the story of Jesus, the crucified Messiah. For many Jews, that is an offensive story. His strategy has been to focus on the Gentile "godfearers," people who are attracted to Jewish monotheism and ethics, but who do not become Jews and do not follow the ritual observances of circumcision and purity laws. Paul tells them that they can be part of a Jewish reform movement without circumcision and without all of the inconvenient laws peculiar to the Jews. That strategy has created enemies for Paul -- enemies among the practicing Jews, because Paul is stealing some of their members and many of their Gentile supporters. Many of the synagogues were built with Gentile money and political influence. Paul also has enemies among the Christians. Many of them are devout, observant Jews. They are bothered that Paul has brought uncircumcised Jews who ignore the law into their Christian fellowship.

Wednesday we read about some of the anxiety within the Church, and how it was settled. After Paul had reported to James and the elders, they said to Paul that there are "many thousands" of Christians who are observant Jews. "They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or obey the customs."

Paul has caused offense to Jews, whether followers of Jesus as Messiah or not. So the leaders create a process for Paul to publicly present himself as one who observes and guards the law.

It doesn't work, and Paul's presence in the temple and in Jerusalem provokes a response. Pious Jews who intend to defend the tradition attack Paul. The Roman soldiers stop the attack, but they can't make sense of its origin. Paul uses his standing as a Roman citizen to gain the opportunity to speak publicly.

First he tells of his Jewish pedigree as a pupil of the famous Pharisee Gamaliel. He tells them how zealous he has been for the law. He tells how he persecuted the followers of the way of Jesus, until he had a blinding vision of Jesus. A devout Jew named Ananias prayed for Paul, and Paul's sight was restored.

Tomorrow we'll hear the rest of Paul's address. It will be stopped at the mention of Gentiles. When Paul tells them he was sent by God to witness to the Gentiles, the crowd will cry for Paul's blood. The inclusion of the Gentiles is too much to take.

Throughout this re-reading of Acts this season it has struck me that Paul's situation as he attempted to stay in communion with Jerusalem is very similar to the Episcopal Church's situation as we attempt to stay in communion with other Anglicans. Paul faced entrenched tradition, Biblical warrant, and profound anti-Gentile bias as he sought to create an inclusive church. Part of his strategy for gaining friends in Jerusalem was money, the collection for the Jerusalem church that was such a focus of his mission. Another part of his strategy was witness. He told of what he had seen -- the faithfulness of Gentiles who love Jesus. The third part of his strategy was theology. Paul taught that in Jesus all of the dividing walls between people have been brought down: Jew/Gentile, slave/free, male/female.

The Episcopal Church is in the same situation today. We witness to the faithfulness of gay Christians who love Jesus. We are faced with entrenched tradition, a very few Biblical verses, and profound anti-gay bias as we seek to create an inclusive church. Part of our strategy for gaining friends is the money and commitment we show for mission through the Communion. Another part of our strategy is witness. We ask the Communion to hear the stories of GLBT Christians. The other part of our strategy is theology. Jesus' love extends to break down the gay/straight dividing wall as well.

Paul's audience was unable to see the vision he had seen. The drama of his imprisonment will continue. It remains to be seen whether the Anglican Communion can see the vision that the Episcopal Church has seen. I imagine there is plenty of drama remaining in that story too.

One last note. Today we remember Jonathan Myrick Daniels, a young Episcopal seminarian who was in Alabama in the long, hot summer of 1965 working for the Civil Rights movement. He stepped in front of a gun fired in anger at a black woman as his witness that Jesus' love extends to break down the black/white dividing wall. The struggle continues.

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