Gird Your Mind

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 -- Week of 1 Advent, Year Two
Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 937)
Psalms 5, 6 (morning) 10, 11 (evening)
Amos 3:1-11
2 Peter 1:12-21
Matthew 21:12-22

There is a nice phrase in 1 Peter. The NRSV translates it "prepare your minds for action." The literal phrase in Greek is "gird up the loins of your mind." There is an interesting conversation in science about the nature of "mind." It seems that "mind" is more than "brain." The information that comes from many parts of our body has a mind-like quality. Some doctors like to speak of the psychosomatic unity of our bodies and thoughts and emotions.

Each morning as we read and reflect on the scriptures, as we pray and commend ourselves to God, we gird up the loins of our minds to prepare for the coming day. "Discipline yourselves," says 1 Peter. Commit to the practice of prayer and reflection; embrace your ministries of service and love; nurture the commitments that form the foundation of our lives.

The writer continues: "Set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed." Two things strike me. First, it is grace that Jesus Christ brings. Jesus reveals God to be love incarnate. God's character and work is steadfast love exercised in compassion. God's love expressed corporately is God's justice. Jesus brings us God, which means Jesus brings us divine grace. Therefore, be not afraid. "Set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed."

The second part of this word invites our hope to be awake and alert for the revelation of Jesus. That's an Advent theme. But our alert expectation is not only directed toward the expectation of the revelation of Jesus at the end of our time or at the end of time itself. We expect to see Jesus revealed today.

Jesus is always among those who are "the least of these." Expect to see Jesus in the poor, the humble, the outcast and oppressed. Jesus is revealed whenever "two or three are gathered" in his name -- in his spirit and character. Jesus is revealed whenever God becomes manifest in creation, for that is the meaning of the incarnation. Jesus is revealed whenever love happens -- in every act of truth, goodness or beauty. Whenever we are alert and awake enough to see these things, we are witnesses of Jesus, and our hope is fulfilled.

The paragraph in 1 Peter concludes with our call to holiness. The foundation of a life of holiness is our trust in God. When we maintain some form of conscious relationship with God, with the loins of our minds girded, alertly expecting to see Jesus revealed and present in the people and circumstances of our lives, we can live in the spirit of grace and hope that produces holiness.

It all starts in the morning as we prepare our minds and discipline ourselves. We "re-mind" ourselves that we are God's beloved children, that all creation is God's and is filled with God's glory, and that Jesus is bringing God's grace to us moment by moment. All that we need do is trust and love. Trust and love.

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