Divine Work
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 -- Week of Proper 24, Year Two
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 989)
Psalms 38 (morning) 119:25-48 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus* 7:4-14
Revelation 8:1-13
Luke 10:17-24
* found in the Apocrypha; also known as the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach
There are some systems that are so broken and corrupt that it is impossible to function within them without being compromised. Commentators speculate that it may be Ben Sira's historical setting that to be in legal office required such collusion with foreign powers that one could not serve in such a capacity and keep one's integrity. Later in his writing he says that educated scribes should serve as legal authorities. We need competent, principled and honest leaders.
"Do not devise a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend," Ben Sira advises. Scott Peck's classic book on the beginning of the spiritual journey, "The Road Less Traveled," says that the first step on the path of spiritual authenticity is an absolute commitment to tell the truth. No more white lies. No more convenient mis-speak. No more partial representation. A firm commitment to truthful communication is a necessary first step on the path to spiritual maturity.
"Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit, for there is One who humbles and exalts." Our Native ancestors urged we walk a mile in our neighbor's moccasins. We can never know the compete inner story and experience of another. We all come with a different inheritance, different congenital dispositions. Two people can participate in the same event and have very different subjective experiences. We have varying capacities for resilience. It is good to set boundaries so to limit the destructive effects that some people may spread, but we can do so with empathy and compassion for the one who is problematic. We all need and seek God's mercy.
_____
Moving from Ecclesiasticus to Revelation, we leave an ordered, reasoned world for a more symbolic, dramatic one. St. John the Divine paints an elaborate spiritual landscape for our consideration of the inner warfare of our spiritual struggle. Where Jesus might use a metaphor of pruning branches in order to produce more fruit, the book of Revelation will take dramatic images from the plagues of Exodus to speak of the path of purgation that is part of the spiritual journey. Fire and blood and bitterness and darkness are all part of the process.
Some have tried to literalize these poetic images or to create historical timelines from Revelation. Such efforts always fail because they do not respect the genre of the author. But it does strike me that this ancient vision seems troublingly prescient when viewed through environmental lenses. A vision of the degradation of a great portion of the earth's great forests, seas and atmosphere is a description of our current circumstances. Pollution is ubiquitous. A scientific consensus has emerged around evidence that our use of carbon is disrupting atmospheric patterns and changing the temperature of sea and air. "Global weirding" is the descriptive phrase that Tom Friedman uses to try to capture the extremes of weather that we are experiencing.
A central message of Revelation is the call to "Repent." That message rings true in our day. We are watching apocalyptic signs in our generation. Will we respond or will we invite catastrophes not unlike the visions of John?
Jesus speaks of the remarkable authority that we have for acting responsibly over our own lives, our planet, and the spiritual world. He rejoices with the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples as they return from their mission -- a mission of healing, Good News, repentance and reconciliation. Jesus tells them -- Jesus tells us -- "See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all of the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you." We are to be courageous in accepting responsibility for our own spiritual journeys, for the challenges that face our world, and for the spread of the healing, reconciling Spirit that Jesus has given to us.
We face similar challenges as did Ben Sira, John the Divine and Jesus' disciples. We too are given wisdom and authority to act with integrity and courage -- to tell the truth, to break destructive patterns, to give away the good news of God's love. It is divine work.
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 989)
Psalms 38 (morning) 119:25-48 (evening)
Ecclesiasticus* 7:4-14
Revelation 8:1-13
Luke 10:17-24
* found in the Apocrypha; also known as the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach
There are some systems that are so broken and corrupt that it is impossible to function within them without being compromised. Commentators speculate that it may be Ben Sira's historical setting that to be in legal office required such collusion with foreign powers that one could not serve in such a capacity and keep one's integrity. Later in his writing he says that educated scribes should serve as legal authorities. We need competent, principled and honest leaders.
"Do not devise a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend," Ben Sira advises. Scott Peck's classic book on the beginning of the spiritual journey, "The Road Less Traveled," says that the first step on the path of spiritual authenticity is an absolute commitment to tell the truth. No more white lies. No more convenient mis-speak. No more partial representation. A firm commitment to truthful communication is a necessary first step on the path to spiritual maturity.
"Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit, for there is One who humbles and exalts." Our Native ancestors urged we walk a mile in our neighbor's moccasins. We can never know the compete inner story and experience of another. We all come with a different inheritance, different congenital dispositions. Two people can participate in the same event and have very different subjective experiences. We have varying capacities for resilience. It is good to set boundaries so to limit the destructive effects that some people may spread, but we can do so with empathy and compassion for the one who is problematic. We all need and seek God's mercy.
_____
Moving from Ecclesiasticus to Revelation, we leave an ordered, reasoned world for a more symbolic, dramatic one. St. John the Divine paints an elaborate spiritual landscape for our consideration of the inner warfare of our spiritual struggle. Where Jesus might use a metaphor of pruning branches in order to produce more fruit, the book of Revelation will take dramatic images from the plagues of Exodus to speak of the path of purgation that is part of the spiritual journey. Fire and blood and bitterness and darkness are all part of the process.
Some have tried to literalize these poetic images or to create historical timelines from Revelation. Such efforts always fail because they do not respect the genre of the author. But it does strike me that this ancient vision seems troublingly prescient when viewed through environmental lenses. A vision of the degradation of a great portion of the earth's great forests, seas and atmosphere is a description of our current circumstances. Pollution is ubiquitous. A scientific consensus has emerged around evidence that our use of carbon is disrupting atmospheric patterns and changing the temperature of sea and air. "Global weirding" is the descriptive phrase that Tom Friedman uses to try to capture the extremes of weather that we are experiencing.
A central message of Revelation is the call to "Repent." That message rings true in our day. We are watching apocalyptic signs in our generation. Will we respond or will we invite catastrophes not unlike the visions of John?
Jesus speaks of the remarkable authority that we have for acting responsibly over our own lives, our planet, and the spiritual world. He rejoices with the seventy (or seventy-two) disciples as they return from their mission -- a mission of healing, Good News, repentance and reconciliation. Jesus tells them -- Jesus tells us -- "See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all of the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you." We are to be courageous in accepting responsibility for our own spiritual journeys, for the challenges that face our world, and for the spread of the healing, reconciling Spirit that Jesus has given to us.
We face similar challenges as did Ben Sira, John the Divine and Jesus' disciples. We too are given wisdom and authority to act with integrity and courage -- to tell the truth, to break destructive patterns, to give away the good news of God's love. It is divine work.
Lowell
__________________
| Audio podcast: Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week. Click the following link: -- Morning Reflection Podcasts 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 missionstclare.com -- Click for online Daily Office 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 -- Click for Divine Hours Discussion Blog: To comment on today's reflection or readings, go to http://lowellsblog.blogspot.com, or click here for Lowell's blog find today's reading, click "comment" at the bottom of the reading, and post your thoughts. |
| The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See 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 |
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