What We Do Matters

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 -- Week of Proper 17, Year One
David Pendleton Okerhater, Deacon and Missionary, 1931

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 982)
Psalms 26, 28 (morning) 36, 39 (evening)
1 Kings 8:65 - 9:9
James 2:14-26
Mark 14:66-72

What we do matters.

God's love is constant and fathomless. But how we respond to God's love has great consequences.

In our reading from 1 Kings today we hear God promise Solomon to "establish your royal throne over Israel forever." But that promise is qualified: "If you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and statutes..., then I will cut Israel off from the land that I have given them; and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight." Here at the moment of Israel's expansive sovereignty during Solomon's reign, as they celebrate the dedication of the Jerusalem Temple, we can already see the shadows crossing over the people.

There was a hint back in chapter 5. "King Solomon conscripted forced labor out of all Israel; the levy numbered thirty thousand men." Like the Pharaoh in Egypt, Solomon enslaved the Israelites into forced labor on behalf of his massive building programs. The Biblical note doesn't mention his drafting laborers from Judah. The memory of his abuses and his preferential treatment of Judah will prompt a later rebellion that will split the nation.

In James we have a teaching centered around the principle that "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." Paul said just the opposite. James insists that active faith feeds the poor and acts with compassion toward the needy. He offers and man and a woman from the tradition as his examples. Abraham trusted God by willingly offering his son Isaac, thus demonstrating his faith, "and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." And Rahab was a prostitute. Her act of welcoming and protecting Joshua's spies saved her life and gave her salvation.

James is insistent. What we do matters. James is unimpressed with professions of belief. Let your actions testify to your faith, he says. There is a famous quote is attributed to St. Francis, "Preach the words at all times. Use words if necessary." James labels faith without works as death.

Our final snapshot is of Peter. At the time of trial, he fails. Jesus is arrested. As he is being questioned by the High Priest, Peter is in the darkness with the crowd outside. Three times he is challenged: "You were with him." "This man is one of them. He is a Galilean" Three times he denied knowing Jesus or being part of his fellowship. Twice the cock crowed. "Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And [Peter] broke down and wept." He had betrayed Jesus. Just like Judas. Peter was no better than Judas.

Yet we know the rest of the story. Judas despaired that God's love could be greater than his failure, and in an act of willful control, Judas ended his shame and misery by taking his own life. Peter on the other hand lived with his shame and failure, stayed with the demoralized disciples, and witnessed the resurrection of Jesus. John offers a story of Jesus appearing to Peter on the lakeside back home in Galilee, where he invites Peter to reaffirm his love three times. Peter is empowered to "Feed my lambs," and "Tend my sheep."

What we do matters. There are sometimes terrible and tragic consequences to our behavior. We are responsible for living the faith or ideals we may claim to believe. We are responsible for the freedom and the welfare of others, especially the poor. We are responsible for our failures. Yet God is greater than our failures. What God does best is resurrection.

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