Renunciation or Proper Use
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 -- Week of Proper 27, 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 993)
Psalms 78:1-39 (morning) 78:40-72 (evening)
Joel 1:15 - 2:2(3-11)
Revelation 19:1-10
Luke 14:25-35
A tension runs throughout scripture. I've seen it called the tension between personal renunciation and proper use. The Gospel and the Biblical message is a word of challenge. Often we don't get clear, specific, unambiguous direction, but rather challenge, inspiration, and a context for ongoing discernment.
Today's reading from Luke places some of these tensions in front of us.
Today we read, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." Elsewhere in the scriptures we are called to love and serve our family and neighbors, and to embrace life, which Christ gives to us abundantly. In the early church, some passionate followers, inspired by this admonition to hate one's own life, intentionally sought to provoke an opportunity for their own martyrdom. (We see such passion today among some radical adherents to Islam and Hinduism.) The early Church discouraged members from actively seeking to become martyrs even while the Church recognizing that following Jesus could provoke persecution or even death.
Today we read, "None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." This call has inspired many like St. Francis to embrace a radical call of poverty and service. Centuries of devout followers have given away their possessions to join monasteries or find other creative ways to express their faith through renunciation of property and wealth. We also have Biblical teachings that urge us to use our possessions wisely and generously to help others. Joseph of Arimethea stands as a hero of the gospel story because he used his power and wealth to support Jesus, offering his tomb for Christ's body and speaking boldly in Christ's defense when that might have been controversial and costly. Our own local example is Bernice Jones of Springdale. Bernice was moved by the words about how hard it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, so she worked systematically to give away her considerable wealth before she died, creating the Jones Center and other important community services.
One-verse proof-text Christianity can be problematic. I remember the story about a new and passionate adherent to the faith who wanted to trust the scripture completely by giving himself to its words. He decided to let the Bible fall open to whatever page it might open to. Then with his eyes closed he would let his finger fall upon a scripture and he would embrace that verse wholly. As he started his devotion, he let the Bible open and his finger fall. There he read the verse: "Judas went and hanged himself." Curious, he repeated his practice. The Bible opened and his finger landed. "Go thou and do likewise."
There are some inspiring stories of holy lives being turned by the power of a single verse of scripture deeply embraced. St. Antony's great life as a desert monk was propelled at age 34 when he heard words of Jesus, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The story of his life of ascesis became something of a model of Christian maturity.
The word of scripture challenges and inspires us to grow. Most of us are seeking a path between the challenge of personal renunciation and proper use, between complete abandonment and using our possessions wisely. How do we increasingly give ourselves and our wealth and power for the sake of good? What is God calling us to? Eventually, when we die, we give up all of our possessions. Some people like to do that before they die. Some use their death as an opportunity to give away possessions in the Biblical spirit. Eventually, as we die, we are all called to martyrdom, to offer our lives in complete trust to God in Christ.
As I was reading today's passage from Joel about the horrible desolation of the locust plague, my mind went to some recent pictures from Indonesia, images of volcanic ash covering every thing and everyone. The dual reading of natural disaster and the call to give up possessions is a reminder of our opportunity for "proper use" as people of privilege, living in the wealthiest nation in the world. Our church's arm of outreach and relief is one way we respond to plague and disaster -- Episcopal Relief and Development, www.er-d.org. Though we may not be among those who respond to the call to give up all our possessions, we can be among those who hold them lightly and respond generously. What would Joseph of Arimethea do?
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 78:1-39 (morning) 78:40-72 (evening)
Joel 1:15 - 2:2(3-11)
Revelation 19:1-10
Luke 14:25-35
A tension runs throughout scripture. I've seen it called the tension between personal renunciation and proper use. The Gospel and the Biblical message is a word of challenge. Often we don't get clear, specific, unambiguous direction, but rather challenge, inspiration, and a context for ongoing discernment.
Today's reading from Luke places some of these tensions in front of us.
Today we read, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." Elsewhere in the scriptures we are called to love and serve our family and neighbors, and to embrace life, which Christ gives to us abundantly. In the early church, some passionate followers, inspired by this admonition to hate one's own life, intentionally sought to provoke an opportunity for their own martyrdom. (We see such passion today among some radical adherents to Islam and Hinduism.) The early Church discouraged members from actively seeking to become martyrs even while the Church recognizing that following Jesus could provoke persecution or even death.
Today we read, "None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." This call has inspired many like St. Francis to embrace a radical call of poverty and service. Centuries of devout followers have given away their possessions to join monasteries or find other creative ways to express their faith through renunciation of property and wealth. We also have Biblical teachings that urge us to use our possessions wisely and generously to help others. Joseph of Arimethea stands as a hero of the gospel story because he used his power and wealth to support Jesus, offering his tomb for Christ's body and speaking boldly in Christ's defense when that might have been controversial and costly. Our own local example is Bernice Jones of Springdale. Bernice was moved by the words about how hard it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, so she worked systematically to give away her considerable wealth before she died, creating the Jones Center and other important community services.
One-verse proof-text Christianity can be problematic. I remember the story about a new and passionate adherent to the faith who wanted to trust the scripture completely by giving himself to its words. He decided to let the Bible fall open to whatever page it might open to. Then with his eyes closed he would let his finger fall upon a scripture and he would embrace that verse wholly. As he started his devotion, he let the Bible open and his finger fall. There he read the verse: "Judas went and hanged himself." Curious, he repeated his practice. The Bible opened and his finger landed. "Go thou and do likewise."
There are some inspiring stories of holy lives being turned by the power of a single verse of scripture deeply embraced. St. Antony's great life as a desert monk was propelled at age 34 when he heard words of Jesus, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The story of his life of ascesis became something of a model of Christian maturity.
The word of scripture challenges and inspires us to grow. Most of us are seeking a path between the challenge of personal renunciation and proper use, between complete abandonment and using our possessions wisely. How do we increasingly give ourselves and our wealth and power for the sake of good? What is God calling us to? Eventually, when we die, we give up all of our possessions. Some people like to do that before they die. Some use their death as an opportunity to give away possessions in the Biblical spirit. Eventually, as we die, we are all called to martyrdom, to offer our lives in complete trust to God in Christ.
As I was reading today's passage from Joel about the horrible desolation of the locust plague, my mind went to some recent pictures from Indonesia, images of volcanic ash covering every thing and everyone. The dual reading of natural disaster and the call to give up possessions is a reminder of our opportunity for "proper use" as people of privilege, living in the wealthiest nation in the world. Our church's arm of outreach and relief is one way we respond to plague and disaster -- Episcopal Relief and Development, www.er-d.org. Though we may not be among those who respond to the call to give up all our possessions, we can be among those who hold them lightly and respond generously. What would Joseph of Arimethea do?
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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