Politics and the Daily Office
Monday, July 25, 2011 -- Week of Proper 12, Year One
Saint James the Apostle
To read about our daily commemorations, go to the 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)
EITHER the readings for Friday of Proper 12 (p. 976)
Psalms 56, 57, [58] (morning) 64, 65 (evening)
2 Samuel 2:1-11
Acts 15:36-16:5
Mark 6:14-29
OR the readings for St. James (p. 998)
Morning Prayer: Psalm 34; Jeremiah 16:14-21, Mark 1:14-20
Evening Prayer: Psalms 33; Jeremiah 26:1-15; Matthew 10:16-32
I chose the readings for Friday of Proper 12
Herod Antipas becomes a major character in today's gospel. Antipas was a surviving son of Herod the Great, who was so paranoid and jealous that he had several of his sons executed. Caesar Augustus supposedly quipped that it would be better to be one of Herod the Great's swine than one of his sons, for the swine had a better chance at living. (Herod the Great was said to practice kosher.) In 5 BCE, Herod the Great's oldest son and presumed successor Antipater was brought before Herod on charges of attempted murder. Antipas was named to succeed as king. But the following year, after Herod executed Antipater, the king changed his will to divide the rule among three of his sons. Rome confirmed Herod Antipas as tetrarch ("rule of a quarter") of Galilee and Perea. His two regions were divided by the Jordan River and by the Decapolis.
During a visit to Rome, Antipas fell in love with his half-brother Herod Philip's wife Herodias. (Herodias was herself the granddaughter of Herod the Great.) She apparently returned Antipas' affections and promised to marry him. Antipas divorced his first wife, Phasaelis, the daughter of the powerful King Aretas IV of Nabatea. The resentments provoked hostilities during which Antipas suffered a significant defeat when Philip's forces joined the Nabateans.
We see John the Baptist in prison having publicly accused Herod Antipas on account of marrying his brother's wife. The gospel reading seems rather sympathetic toward Herod, laying the cause of John's execution on Herodias and her daughter, named Salome in Josephus' history. It is a sad and sordid tale, ennobled by the faithfulness of John's disciples, who claim John's body for respectful burial. (Mark's account sharply contrasts John's disciple's courage and loyalty with the fleeing of the twelve at Jesus' execution.)
One of the things that strikes me as I regularly read the Daily Office is how the Biblical narrative is so enmeshed in politics and intrigue. John the Baptist becomes a political martyr for his challenge to the ruler. Jesus is executed as a traitor and enemy to the state. Today's first reading from 2 Samuel speaks of David's anointing at Hebron as king over Judah. One of his first acts is to invite the city of Jabesh-gilead to join his reign, although that city lies in the heart of the territory of Saul's immediate successor Ishbaal.
It takes a strong political stomach to read the Daily Office. The scripture's occupation with such matters implies that we too are to pay attention to the politics and intrigue of our own day.
When I was in the process of formation toward ordination, a sincere and earnest priest gave me some fatherly advice. Be a good pastor, he said. Take care of your people. Teach them the doctrines, worship and prayer of the church, but don't get involved in political controversies. Leave the church out of politics, he advised. That will only cause you problems and division. You'll lose support and parishioners, he said. There's enough to do just being a good pastor.
In giving me that advice, he may have been worried that I had been influenced by example. I had grown up in St. Peter's Church in Oxford, Mississippi. My childhood rector was Duncan M. Gray, Jr., who had acquired some notoriety for his outspoken support of integration when that was the most divisive political issue of our day.
I was influenced by example. Although I haven't lived up to his legacy, my childhood priest became a model of priesthood for me. As a priest, when I met faithful, Christian gay couples whose lives and loves had the same qualities as my own marriage, I recognized the same fears and conflicts over sexuality as I remembered from the racial conflicts of my youth. I began to speak out for what I understood to be a compelling cause for love, justice, and equality. To me, I was following a beloved example, although my mentor, now my bishop, did not agree with me theologically. With his great grace, however, he agreed to disagree, and he gave me his love, respect and support. (I commend to you the recently published biography, And One Was a Priest: The Life and Times of Duncan M. Gray, Jr., by Araminta Stone Johnson.)
There is an attraction about turning one's attention away from the conflicts and ugliness of politics and the daily news to attend only to things spiritual. There is something comforting about keeping one's mind and heart above. It's surely safer for priests to be good pastors and take care of their people.
It is also very easy to become enmeshed in the pride and power and abuse that infects political conflict. We can easily lose our grounding when politics defines our interests. If we think we are following our Baptismal Covenant when we "persevere in resisting evil," we also have to remember that we promise to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself." If we "strive for justice and peace among all people," we must do so while we continue to "respect the dignity of every human being." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 304-305)
I like Mark's notice that Herod Antipas knew that John the Baptist was "a righteous and holy man," and that Herod "protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him." John accused Herod, and was enough of a threat that Herod imprisoned him. But John did so, it would seem, in a way that must have nonetheless respected Herod's dignity as a human being.
Sometimes it turns out badly, as it did for John. But he did his prophetic witness with an admirable strength, integrity and grace.
Where are our boundaries and our callings? The example of scripture and history seems to demand our political engagement. But the same example also encourages us to practice that engagement in the spirit of being "in the world but not of the world." I'm thankful for a good mentor. How can we confront the conflict and intrigue of our own day while remaining faithful to the call to compassion? How do we hold the Bible and Prayer Book in one hand, and the daily newspaper in the other?
Saint James the Apostle
To read about our daily commemorations, go to the 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)
EITHER the readings for Friday of Proper 12 (p. 976)
Psalms 56, 57, [58] (morning) 64, 65 (evening)
2 Samuel 2:1-11
Acts 15:36-16:5
Mark 6:14-29
OR the readings for St. James (p. 998)
Morning Prayer: Psalm 34; Jeremiah 16:14-21, Mark 1:14-20
Evening Prayer: Psalms 33; Jeremiah 26:1-15; Matthew 10:16-32
I chose the readings for Friday of Proper 12
Herod Antipas becomes a major character in today's gospel. Antipas was a surviving son of Herod the Great, who was so paranoid and jealous that he had several of his sons executed. Caesar Augustus supposedly quipped that it would be better to be one of Herod the Great's swine than one of his sons, for the swine had a better chance at living. (Herod the Great was said to practice kosher.) In 5 BCE, Herod the Great's oldest son and presumed successor Antipater was brought before Herod on charges of attempted murder. Antipas was named to succeed as king. But the following year, after Herod executed Antipater, the king changed his will to divide the rule among three of his sons. Rome confirmed Herod Antipas as tetrarch ("rule of a quarter") of Galilee and Perea. His two regions were divided by the Jordan River and by the Decapolis.
During a visit to Rome, Antipas fell in love with his half-brother Herod Philip's wife Herodias. (Herodias was herself the granddaughter of Herod the Great.) She apparently returned Antipas' affections and promised to marry him. Antipas divorced his first wife, Phasaelis, the daughter of the powerful King Aretas IV of Nabatea. The resentments provoked hostilities during which Antipas suffered a significant defeat when Philip's forces joined the Nabateans.
We see John the Baptist in prison having publicly accused Herod Antipas on account of marrying his brother's wife. The gospel reading seems rather sympathetic toward Herod, laying the cause of John's execution on Herodias and her daughter, named Salome in Josephus' history. It is a sad and sordid tale, ennobled by the faithfulness of John's disciples, who claim John's body for respectful burial. (Mark's account sharply contrasts John's disciple's courage and loyalty with the fleeing of the twelve at Jesus' execution.)
One of the things that strikes me as I regularly read the Daily Office is how the Biblical narrative is so enmeshed in politics and intrigue. John the Baptist becomes a political martyr for his challenge to the ruler. Jesus is executed as a traitor and enemy to the state. Today's first reading from 2 Samuel speaks of David's anointing at Hebron as king over Judah. One of his first acts is to invite the city of Jabesh-gilead to join his reign, although that city lies in the heart of the territory of Saul's immediate successor Ishbaal.
It takes a strong political stomach to read the Daily Office. The scripture's occupation with such matters implies that we too are to pay attention to the politics and intrigue of our own day.
When I was in the process of formation toward ordination, a sincere and earnest priest gave me some fatherly advice. Be a good pastor, he said. Take care of your people. Teach them the doctrines, worship and prayer of the church, but don't get involved in political controversies. Leave the church out of politics, he advised. That will only cause you problems and division. You'll lose support and parishioners, he said. There's enough to do just being a good pastor.
In giving me that advice, he may have been worried that I had been influenced by example. I had grown up in St. Peter's Church in Oxford, Mississippi. My childhood rector was Duncan M. Gray, Jr., who had acquired some notoriety for his outspoken support of integration when that was the most divisive political issue of our day.
I was influenced by example. Although I haven't lived up to his legacy, my childhood priest became a model of priesthood for me. As a priest, when I met faithful, Christian gay couples whose lives and loves had the same qualities as my own marriage, I recognized the same fears and conflicts over sexuality as I remembered from the racial conflicts of my youth. I began to speak out for what I understood to be a compelling cause for love, justice, and equality. To me, I was following a beloved example, although my mentor, now my bishop, did not agree with me theologically. With his great grace, however, he agreed to disagree, and he gave me his love, respect and support. (I commend to you the recently published biography, And One Was a Priest: The Life and Times of Duncan M. Gray, Jr., by Araminta Stone Johnson.)
There is an attraction about turning one's attention away from the conflicts and ugliness of politics and the daily news to attend only to things spiritual. There is something comforting about keeping one's mind and heart above. It's surely safer for priests to be good pastors and take care of their people.
It is also very easy to become enmeshed in the pride and power and abuse that infects political conflict. We can easily lose our grounding when politics defines our interests. If we think we are following our Baptismal Covenant when we "persevere in resisting evil," we also have to remember that we promise to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself." If we "strive for justice and peace among all people," we must do so while we continue to "respect the dignity of every human being." (Book of Common Prayer, p. 304-305)
I like Mark's notice that Herod Antipas knew that John the Baptist was "a righteous and holy man," and that Herod "protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him." John accused Herod, and was enough of a threat that Herod imprisoned him. But John did so, it would seem, in a way that must have nonetheless respected Herod's dignity as a human being.
Sometimes it turns out badly, as it did for John. But he did his prophetic witness with an admirable strength, integrity and grace.
Where are our boundaries and our callings? The example of scripture and history seems to demand our political engagement. But the same example also encourages us to practice that engagement in the spirit of being "in the world but not of the world." I'm thankful for a good mentor. How can we confront the conflict and intrigue of our own day while remaining faithful to the call to compassion? How do we hold the Bible and Prayer Book in one hand, and the daily newspaper in the other?
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 |
posted by Lowell @ 9:14 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I hear you. Have to say that your post on Friday compelled me to write my congressman. Thank you for writing for those of us who hope that things can get better. LL Montgomery, LR
How.. with God's help.
We hold the world and all its political intrigue and abuses and goodness in prayer, with God's grace, and seek peace in every place and way possible. I think you have shown me that you cannot separate the spiritual from the political. Even those who live in the monasteries separate themselves to some extent, in order to pray for the world. Good points to ponder for me today.
Peace,
Janet
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) meeting in LR is this evening. We'll watch a DVD entitled "Sacred Texts, Social Duty." This focuses on how people of faith think about taxation." Interestingly, I went to Second Baptist Church, a progressive church in Little Rock during their study called "Sweet Justice." That church is actively seeking to address political issues from a real Christian perspective.
Good read today. I have no problem with you or any other priest making your views known and backing those views up with your interpretation of scripture. My beef lies when we call out as wrong the other side's view. I have lost two spiritual giants in the last two months. Men who I respect greatly as I do you. One was a former Catholic priest who went on to minister to the dying through hospice. The other a strong Southern Baptist who excelled in farming, business, education and public service. Both most likely would disagree with you on many political and theological grounds but would respect your position and not publicly disparage it. That is where we all need to be.
Thanks for the good comments friends -- Louise, Caroline, Janet and Ted. I know you all, and I know what good you commit yourselves to. And each of you is different -- from me and from each other.
I don't think I've ever met anyone who agreed with everything I think. We're first called to love one another. Then, in love, we can argue about love's strategies. What's the best way to show love; ..to be loving? Good people come up with various plans, some of them contradictory and conflicting. Nonetheless, in the conflict, we are called to respect the dignity of every human being.
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