Thursday, September 01, 2011

The Cravings War

Thursday, September 2, 2011 -- Week of Proper 17, Year One
David Pendleton Okerhater, Deacon and Missionary, 1931


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 982)
Psalms 37:1-18 (morning)      37:19-42 (evening) 
1 Kings 11:1-13
James 3:13 - 4:12
Mark 15:12-21


"Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from?  Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?"  (James 4:1)


From Robert J.Wicks' fine little book:  Living Simply in an Anxious World


God really has only one expectation of us:  to love.  But since we find this (in our lack of hope, trust, and patience) too difficult to accept, we try to break down this call and replace it with our own human-fashioned ones.  So, the expectation to love is erased from our hearts, and the expectations to do, achieve, gain acceptance, control, be secure, or look good are put in our heads instead.  There they remain as lies to preoccupy, confuse, and trouble us.  There the purpose they serve is to help us avoid facing the challenge of the real, the deep, the ultimate, the first and final question of life.  However, despite this "advantage" or secondary gain, they still leave us lost until eventually we are willing in humility to embrace the only God-given question we must answer:  "How can I love?"  (p. 1)


Although I'm not sure it fits into this reflection, as I was reading to find this little quote from Wicks, I also found this gem, borrowed from Anthony deMello:


To a disciple who was forever complaining about others the Master said, "If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people.  It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth."  (p. 4)


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


0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home