Fasting and Abundance

Friday, November 6, 2009 -- Week of Proper 26, Year One
William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1944

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 990)
Psalms 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning) 73 (evening)
Ezra 7:27-28; 8:21-36
Revelation 15:1-8
Matthew 14:13-21

As Ezra prepares to lead a group of exiles to leave Babylon and to return to their former home in Jerusalem, he proclaims a fast. He asks God's protection upon the community as they make the long journey, and do so without an armed guard. In trust, Ezra commends their welfare to God's keeping.

For the first time in the dozen years since I've been rector at St. Paul's, I've asked people to pray specifically for our stewardship journey this fall. Maybe a fast would be in order as well. Like Ezra, I sense some vulnerability for us right now. The economic downturn has hurt so many people, including many of our parishioners, and we've increased our outreach in response. Our programs keep growing and need the basic support that will keep them vital. Last fall we froze salaries of our staff and cut program to the bone. (We've seen the effect of that, for example, in our wonderful music and youth ministries where our basic program needs this year have been greater than our budget.)

To my mind, now is a time when we're asking for those who can to deepen their level of sacrificial giving for the continued vitality and protection of our congregation. So many people have responded. Ultimately our trust is in God. We're praying that God will give us what we need. In the spirit of Ezra's example, I'm going to ask our congregation to fast. In our tradition, Wednesdays and Fridays are traditional days of fasting and abstinence (as we do on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday). I'm going to ask our members to fast on either Wednesday or Friday of next week, or both, and to pray for God's protection over our congregation and its ministries, and for all of the resources we need to do the ministry God calls us to.

Our inheritance is an inheritance of abundance. The gospel story today expresses it beautifully.

The time seems ominous. John the Baptist has been executed by Herod. Upon hearing the terrible news, Jesus withdraws to a deserted place by himself. But crowds continue to follow. There are needs: for teaching, for healing, for prayer, for friendship. Jesus' response is always compassion. He serves their needs. But at the end of the day, his disciples are anxious. The crowd is large and their resources are small. The people are hungry, but there doesn't appear to be enough.

"You give them something to eat," he charges the disciples. "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish."

Jesus organizes the crowd. He takes what has been offered, looks to heaven, blesses, breaks and gives. Not only is there enough, there is abundance.

That is the reality we claim. Every time we offer our lives to God on the altar, Jesus takes our gifts, blesses, breaks, and gives them in the communion that makes us whole. It is what we do; it is who we are. It is what God does; it is who God is.

There will be enough, and even abundance. We do our part in prayer and fasting; we give our five loaves and our two fish; God protects and feeds us.

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