Thursday, September 27, 2012

Today's Readings

Thursday, September 27, 2012  -- Week of Proper 20
Vincent de Paul, Religious, and Prophetic Witness, 1660
Thomas Traherne, Priest, 1674


[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office

     (Book of Common Prayer, p. 985)
Psalms [83] or 116, 117 (morning)       85, 86 (evening)
Esther 7:1-10 or Judith 12:1-20
Acts 19:11-20
Luke 4:14-30

I am traveling today.  Can't write.  Here are the readings for the Daily Office.


Lowell
________



Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

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 http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

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

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Security, Esteem, and Power

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 -- Week of Proper 20
Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Winchester, 1626
Wilson Carlile, Priest, 1942


[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office
     (Book of Common Prayer, p. 985)
Psalms 119:97-120 (morning)       81, 82 (evening)
Esther 6:1-14 or Judith 10:1-23
Acts 19:1-20
Luke 4:1-13

I chose to read from Judith


Luke's story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness speaks of the temptations that face all of us. 

Security:  Jesus is famished after forty days of fasting.  The devil tempts him to abandon his reliance upon God alone and to feed himself by an act of magic.  Jesus raises his vision beyond his physical needs and beyond his feelings of threatened security -- "One does not live by bread alone."

Esteem:  The devil shows Jesus the glory of all the kingdoms of the world and offers it to Jesus.  He can have the whole world at his feet if he will only give his worship to the devil -- give highest worth to something created rather than to the divine.  "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him," answers Jesus, keeping his loyalty to the mysterious and free God.

Power:  Quoting the Bible, the devil offers Jesus the angelic powers for his command.  Throw yourself from the pinnacle of the temple.  You will have such power that nothing can harm you.  Jesus' answer:  "Do not test God."  (Remember just a few days ago this was Judith's answer to her city's plan to surrender to the Assyrians if God doesn't rescue them in five days.)

Security, esteem, and power.  God gives us divine security, divine love and esteem, divine power and control -- on God's terms.  We are healthy when we trust God for these things.  Our problems come when we exaggerate our needs for security, esteem and control, and when we set ourselves to get these things on our terms.  When we are addicted enough to our exaggerated needs for security, esteem and control, we will do damaging things, we will sell out to the devil to get our needs met.  We will seek to posses whatever passes for the symbols of security, esteem and power in our culture. 

In our congregation's Servant Leadership course we offer God's antidote to our addictions:  Compassion, community and co-creation. 

When our deepest motivation mirrors the fundamental characteristic of Jesus -- compassion -- we are motivated by God's values rather than our exaggerated selfish needs.  When we see ourselves within the community of humanity rather than insisting that the world revolve around our own individuality, we act with proper focus for the common good.  When we join in God's work of reconciliation, peace and justice, we share in the Creator's purpose and power. 

These same issues play out in our other two readings. 

In an extreme condition of insecurity and threat, Judith tells the leaders not to put God to the test, but to trust God completely.  Then she devises a plan to act for the good of her community and aligns herself to God in trust.  She is enabled to act boldly.

Paul faces threats and challenges daily as he works with the community in Ephesus, building up their faith and their spirit for two years.  His power, which comes from God, is authentic power.  He brings healing to those who are sick and coherence to those who are oppressed.  We see his authentic power contrasted with the magic tricks of the exorcists who know only the form and not the substance of Jesus.

We live in a culture that is tempted by false gods selling greed and selfishness, prejudice, and power for the price of abandoning our essential values as a peaceful, loving people of compassion, extending hospitality in order to create a society that works for liberty and justice for all. 

We live in a time where fear and anger seek to bring out the worst in us -- selfishness, tribalism, and aggression. 

The temptations of the wilderness cry for our allegiance.  They tell us to be afraid for our security and to protect ourselves with greed and violence.  They tell us to be arrogant and selfish and to raise up our own kind at the expense of others -- glory is ours and will not be shared.  They tell us to exercise power in narrow, tribalistic ways and not take responsibility to pay for the powers we exercise.  It is an ugly and dangerous time.  Jesus help us.

Our stories from scripture tell us to put our trust in God.  Our security, esteem and power comes from God, not from our self-centered ways.  We find life when we live with compassion, in community, joining God's work of healing, reconciliation, liberation and economic justice.  It's either God's agenda or the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil.  Whose side will we be on?


Lowell
_______________

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Spirituality of Judith

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 -- Week of Proper 20
Sergius, Abbot of Holy Trinity, Moscow, 1392

[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office
     (Book of Common Prayer, p. 985)
Psalms 78:1-39 (morning)       78:40-72 (evening)
Esther 5:1-14 or Judith 8:9-17, 9:1, 7-10
Acts 18:12-28
Luke 3:15-22

The drama of the book of Judith is compelling.  The Jewish city of Bethulia is trapped behind strong city gates.  Surrounding them is a mighty siege army of Assyrians.  The water has run out.  It is the dry season when no rain comes.  Many of the citizens have urged surrender.  They know that they would become slaves, deported wherever and however the conquering Assyrians wish.  But this seems preferable than the slow deaths by thirst and famine followed by the inevitable attack which will breach their walls, bringing violent rape, death and pillage. 

The town leader has urged them to hold out a little longer -- for five more days.  Ask God to deliver us, he says.  If God has not done so in five days, we will surrender.

The beautiful and pious widow Judith summons the town leaders to her home.  She scolds them:  "What you have said to the people today is not right...  Who are you to put God to the test today...?  No, my brothers, do not anger the Lord our God.  For if he does not choose to help us within these five days, he has power to protect us within any time he pleases, or even to destroy us in the presence of our enemies.  ...God is not like a human being, to be threatened, or like a mere mortal, to be won over by pleading.  Therefore, while we wait for his deliverance, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it pleases him.  ...In spite of everything let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who is putting us to the test as he did our ancestors."

That is a remarkable speech.  Judith exhibits profound trust in God.  She refuses to play deadline games with the divine.  With great determination, she accepts the dire situation, facing it as a challenge in the tradition of her ancestors, and she expresses thanks to God despite the threats.

Within that spirit, she prays.  Then she determines to take action herself, asking God, "Give to me, a widow, the strong hand to do what I plan.  By the deceit of my lips strike down the slave with the prince and the prince with his servant; crush their arrogance by the hand of a woman."

Trust and acceptance.  Grateful thanksgiving.  Prayer and determination in action.

That's not a bad pattern. 

Too often I spend wasteful energy whining or being anxious about what is.  What is, is.  Complaint and fear add nothing to it.  Anxiety only makes action harder.  Something is freed whenever we radically accept the circumstances of the present moment as being the container for God's activity in our lives.  If God is to be with us, God can only be with us in this present moment, in these circumstances -- for this is what we have to work with.

There is also something powerful released whenever we receive the present moment and its circumstances with thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is our active trust of God.  At some time each of us will have to offer to God our lives.  We do that best when we do so with thanksgiving. 

The prayer of Judith is not passive.  She boldly determines to act, with courage and decisiveness.  She does not sit back in victimhood.  She makes a plan, risky and creative, and she throws herself into action to participate with God in the work of deliverance of her people. 

The spirituality of Judith: Acceptance.  Thanksgiving.  Prayer and Action.  


Lowell
__________



Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

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 http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

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

Monday, September 24, 2012

"What then should we do?"

Monday, September 24, 2012 -- Week of Proper 20

[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office
     (Book of Common Prayer, p. 985)
Psalms 80 (morning)       77, [79 (evening)
Esther 4:1-17 or Judith 7:1-7, 19-32
Acts 18:1-11
Luke (1:1-4); 3:1-14

And the crowds asked John, "What then should we do?"  In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."  Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"  He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."  Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?"  He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusations, and be satisfied with your wages."  Luke 3:10-14

John the Baptist declares a religious pronouncement:  "Prepare the way of the Lord, ...bear fruits worthy of repentance."  One might expect that his next words would focus on religious topics -- return to prayer, be faithful in worship, study and heed the scriptures, live a moral and upright life.  Well, he does urge a certain attention toward moral deeds, but they are all deeds of economics. 

John tells them to live personal lives of simplicity and generosity -- "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 

He speaks to the officials, demanding that they completely change their methods of business and to "collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."  That is practically a demand that they go out of business.  Tax collectors and toll collectors lived on the "honest graft" that they collected above and beyond the actual taxes and tolls that they had to return 100% to their superiors.  It was a corrupt and abusive system that favored the rich and exploited the poor. 

For many Jews, the notion that John might have anything other than condemnation to say to members of the Roman occupying army might be scandalous.  But he tells them simply not to abuse their powers.

Economics, economics, economics.  That's the opening message from the first prophet in centuries.  That was frequently the message of the ancient prophets as well. 

It would be interesting to speculate what economic commands John the Baptist might give to us today.  "What then should we do?"

We live in an economy that has some similarities to first century Palestine.  Wealth was concentrated then.  According to William R. Herzog, II (Parables as Subversive Speech) the top 2 percent of the population controlled between 50 and 67 percent of the annual wealth.  Our circumstance are more encouraging.  The top one-percent only earns 16% of the U.S. annual income, but they do control 35% of all wealth.  The lower 40% of our population owns less than one-third of one-percent of American wealth.  What would it mean in our society for those with two coats to share with those who have none?  What form of sharing and generosity would it take for everyone to have food and a coat -- a level of basic security?

And tax collecting is very interesting in our country.  Mr. Romney was quoted recently saying something I've heard repeated over and over as a scandalous truth -- nearly half of Americans pay nothing in Federal Income Tax.  I don't think John the Baptist would be impressed with that charge. 

A fourth of that group are elderly, retired, or disabled, many on fixed incomes collecting Social Security and Medicare.  Quite a few are retired military, collecting the benefits they have earned.  (We call them entitlements.) 

The majority of them simply don't earn enough money to pay federal income tax.  But they do pay taxes.  Most of them pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes than Mr. Romney does.  The working poor remit Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes amounting to 15.3% of their salaries.  They pay sales taxes and motor-fuel taxes -- and pay a much larger percentage of their income than the wealthy because they don't have the luxury of saving. 

So many of our tax breaks are out of reach of many if not a majority of Americans.  Capital gains taxes and mortgage interest deductions favor those wealthy enough to buy and hold stocks or to purchase a home.  The "step-up in basis rule" lets inherited wealth pass along with lower or no taxes.  Retirement savings are taxed at lower rates, and a charitable deduction is not the same for those who are too poor to itemize or in a low bracket.  In Arkansas, because we take income taxes from very low wage levels and because our primary tax is sales tax (a very regressive tax), our poorest citizens pay twice the proportion of their income in taxes rate as do our wealthiest.

I can imagine what John the Baptist might say about the American tax system, and it wouldn't be pretty.  What is the 21st century equivalent of "brood of vipers"? 

How might we prevent the abuse of power?  How might we repent?  How might we create an economic system that insures basic security and a fair opportunity for all?  I think it starts with a strong commitment to the common good and to the infrastructure that serves all people -- food and shelter, excellent education, abundant living wage jobs, care for children, access to health care, good public transportation, fair economic policies, safe streets, a healthy environment, access to museums and parks and other public enhancements -- the economic things that make for abundant life. 

"What then should we do?"  If John the Baptist were speaking to us, if he addressed the economics of our day, what would he say?


Lowell
_____________



Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

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 http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

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

Friday, September 21, 2012

Being Blinded

Friday, September 21, 2012 --  Week of Proper 19
Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]

Today's Readings for the Daily Office
     (Book of Common Prayer)

EITHER the readings for Friday of Proper 19, p. 985
Psalms  69:1-23(24-30)31-38 (morning)    //    73 (evening)
Esther 1:1-4, 10-19 or Judith 4:1-15     
Acts 17:1-15      
John 12:36b-43

OR for the Feast of St. Matthew, p. 999
Morning Prayer:  Psalm 119:41-64; Isaiah 8:11-20; Romans 10:1-15
Evening Prayer:  Psalms 19, 112; Job 28:12-28; Matthew 13:44-52

We have two choices for readings today -- either the readings for Friday, Proper 19 or the readings for St. Matthew.
For the next week we also have choices to read either from Esther or Judith

In several places in the Hebrew scripture, the text implies that God blinds some people so that they fail to respond to God's activity.  Their failure then provokes God's judgment and some ensuing catastrophe. 

In today gospel reading, John 12:40 quotes from the call of Isaiah (chapter 6), remembering the old story.  When Isaiah responds to God's call, saying, "Here am I; send me!" God tells Isaiah, "Go and say to this people:  'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.'  Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed."  Isaiah knows that his message will be rejected.  He asks, "How long, O Lord?"  The answer is ominous.  "Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate..."

In Genesis it says that God hardened the heart of the Pharaoh so that he would not let the Hebrew people go.  But in 2 Corinthians 4, Paul declares it is "the god of this world" who blinds the minds of the unbelievers, "to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." 

It is easy to accept that some people are blind because they are oriented away from the priorities of God, distracted by worldly concerns, the gods of this world.  It seems more problematic that God would intentionally blind others in order to pursue some divine intent. 

Yet so often we can see, usually in retrospect, how evil designs and wrong intention may often set in motion great opportunities for divine blessing.  The story of Joseph's being sold into slavery by his brothers gets reinterpreted that way.  The brothers meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.  Had Joseph not been sold, he would not have been in a position to save his family from famine. 

How do we interpret the cross?  Wasn't it God's intention that all would listen to Jesus, heed his message, and turn with love toward God, neighbor and self?  Yet it was certain that if Jesus challenged the Temple monopoly with a message of open access to God's grace and forgiveness, and also challenged the Roman authority with his invitation to a Messianic Kingdom where God, not Caesar reigns, then Jesus certainly would be killed by those authorities.  So, did the "gods of this world" blind them so they could not see his light?  Or did God stop their ears and blind their eyes so that Jesus could reign from the cross? 

In either interpretation, we are saying that God prevails.  Some may see God's mastery as so thorough and so overweening that God is behind even the evils that God must rescue us from.  There is something comforting about imagining the possibility that the willing ignorance which we see around us, the kind of stupidity that can lead only to catastrophe, is also within God's hands and purpose. 

Right now our nation seems to be in the grip of such fear and anger that we appear destined for catastrophes.  Blind, incomprehensible, reactionary rhetoric abounds.  It seems unlikely that sentiments like those which motivate the Tea Party can create anything good. 

We have so many Biblical examples of desperate circumstances.  Both of our options for our first reading are set in ugly times.  The story of Esther hearkens to a kind of Jewish persecution that has haunted history.  In the story of Judith, Israel is caught in the grip of fear.  We keep reading of the serial rejections that Paul faced, with life-threatening violence, as he moved through the diaspora with his gospel.  And in our gospel readings, Jesus heads for the cross, with willing courage. 

God save us from our selves and from all else that threatens us.  Especially when we are so blind and deaf that we do not know how to help ourselves.


Lowell
_________



Audio podcast:  Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week.  Go to: http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id244.html

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 http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html

Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location

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