Come Away
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 -- Week of Proper 28, Year Two
Hugh, 1200, and Robert Grossteste, 1253, Bishops of Lincoln
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 993)
Psalms 101, 109:1-4(5-29)20-30 (morning) 119:121-144 (evening)
Malachi 1:1, 6-14
James 3:13 - 4:12
Luke 17:1-10
Little shortcuts. White lies. Convenient compromises that no one will see.
In his fine little book The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck says that the spiritual life begins with a radical commitment to truthfulness. No more white lies. Not even little ones.
That principle extends more deeply into all life. No more shortcuts. Even when is doesn't seem to matter. When no one is looking; when no one will know. Living by principles just because they are your principles is a fundamental practice of maturity and faithfulness.
The prophet Malachi condemns the priests for cutting corners and thus defaming God, polluting the temple and voiding their prayer. Instead of offering the first fruit of their flocks, valuable and unblemished sacrifices, these priests are taking the animals from flock that are ill or blind and giving those to God. "I will not accept an offering from your hands," says the prophet in the name of God.
He tries to shame them. The other religions -- the foreigners who do not know God as God has been revealed to us -- "from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you (my chosen insiders) profane it..."
The epistle of James also contrasts two kinds of wisdom. The wisdom from above produces a kind of gentleness that creates peace and mercy. There is another kind of wisdom -- it sounds like the competitive spirit of so much of our materialistic nature -- aggressive behavior that is ambitious, envious and disordered. Conflict and division come from our desires and attachments. We want, and so we act out. James cites the wisdom literature: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore guard your heart and tongues.
Finally we hear challenging words from Jesus through Luke. Forgive, forgive. Then do what you know you should do. Just do it, without expectation of reward. Virtue is its own reward.
Do what it right, whether it seems practical or even helpful. When no one will see or know. Always be truthful. Resist the temptations that come from competitive pride. Let go and let God. Relax.
It starts with your worship and prayer, as Malachi knows. Be grounded in your prayer and offering to God. Connect deeply.
This week our guest at clergy conference was Julia Gatta, author of The Nearness of God: Parish Ministry as a Spiritual Practice. She spoke of our faithfulness to daily prayer -- how easy it is to let our spiritual practices become just one more thing on the to-do list, another obligation that you feel you must do. Think instead, she said, that our prayer time is Jesus' invitation to "come away and rest for a while." It is a gift; a little pleasure. A time away to nurture the groundedness that makes possible our truthfulness, gentleness and peace. If you are reading this, you've given yourself that little gift. A moment to "come away are rest for a while." Ahh. How nice.
Hugh, 1200, and Robert Grossteste, 1253, Bishops of Lincoln
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 993)
Psalms 101, 109:1-4(5-29)20-30 (morning) 119:121-144 (evening)
Malachi 1:1, 6-14
James 3:13 - 4:12
Luke 17:1-10
Little shortcuts. White lies. Convenient compromises that no one will see.
In his fine little book The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck says that the spiritual life begins with a radical commitment to truthfulness. No more white lies. Not even little ones.
That principle extends more deeply into all life. No more shortcuts. Even when is doesn't seem to matter. When no one is looking; when no one will know. Living by principles just because they are your principles is a fundamental practice of maturity and faithfulness.
The prophet Malachi condemns the priests for cutting corners and thus defaming God, polluting the temple and voiding their prayer. Instead of offering the first fruit of their flocks, valuable and unblemished sacrifices, these priests are taking the animals from flock that are ill or blind and giving those to God. "I will not accept an offering from your hands," says the prophet in the name of God.
He tries to shame them. The other religions -- the foreigners who do not know God as God has been revealed to us -- "from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you (my chosen insiders) profane it..."
The epistle of James also contrasts two kinds of wisdom. The wisdom from above produces a kind of gentleness that creates peace and mercy. There is another kind of wisdom -- it sounds like the competitive spirit of so much of our materialistic nature -- aggressive behavior that is ambitious, envious and disordered. Conflict and division come from our desires and attachments. We want, and so we act out. James cites the wisdom literature: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore guard your heart and tongues.
Finally we hear challenging words from Jesus through Luke. Forgive, forgive. Then do what you know you should do. Just do it, without expectation of reward. Virtue is its own reward.
Do what it right, whether it seems practical or even helpful. When no one will see or know. Always be truthful. Resist the temptations that come from competitive pride. Let go and let God. Relax.
It starts with your worship and prayer, as Malachi knows. Be grounded in your prayer and offering to God. Connect deeply.
This week our guest at clergy conference was Julia Gatta, author of The Nearness of God: Parish Ministry as a Spiritual Practice. She spoke of our faithfulness to daily prayer -- how easy it is to let our spiritual practices become just one more thing on the to-do list, another obligation that you feel you must do. Think instead, she said, that our prayer time is Jesus' invitation to "come away and rest for a while." It is a gift; a little pleasure. A time away to nurture the groundedness that makes possible our truthfulness, gentleness and peace. If you are reading this, you've given yourself that little gift. A moment to "come away are rest for a while." Ahh. How nice.
__________________
| 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 |
posted by Lowell @ 8:04 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Hi Lowell,
It nurtures my spirit to know St. Paul's offers morning and evening prayer, and you with the morning reflections.
Interesting in that I am just reading another great little Scott Peck book, The Different Drum, community making and peace. Quite a timely read for me since this is what I've been working for anyway.
Our gospels readings came out different. I read about leaping and thankful lepers! Maybe you were too far gone with the "come away".
Peace, Janet
The Different Drum is a fascinating book. Good primer of peacemaking.
I read the wrong gospel yesterday.
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