All We Can’t Leave Behind
- davidwperk
- Feb 13, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, March 1, 2022
The week of the last Sunday after the Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.
You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 951)
AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39
Prov. 30:1-4,24-33; Phil. 3:1-11; John 18:28-38
Today we celebrate the Feast of Absalom Jones. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Paul’s autobiographical revelations in today’s epistle reading bring to my mind the image of lightening the load before a long hike. (Paul actually uses the metaphor of an athlete competing later in this chapter.) The title track “Walk On” on U2’s album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” has these lines:
“The only baggage you can bring
is all that you can’t leave behind.” *
Lent begins tomorrow. What a fascinating way to frame the challenge of Lent, packing lightly for our journey.. What can we not leave behind? That question could guide us in the process of sorting out what we might need to release, what we might need to let go and leave out of our spiritual suitcase. In today’s reading, one of Paul’s autobiographical passages, he relates his letting go of dependence on his Jewish heritage. He had been living with confidence in his pedigree, his membership in the sect of the Pharisees, his opposition to what he saw as the heretical Christian movement, and his obedience to Jewish ritual and moral law. (See Galatians 1:13-24 and 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 for other autobiographical passages relating of his awakening to Christ.)
Becoming a Christian ratcheted him into a reversal of values. He discovered that a grace-filled and love-filled relationship with God did not require any of those previously treasured pieces of baggage. He lightened his load by releasing what he had cherished and thought essential and by making his dependence on Christ what he could not leave behind on his journey. All else became expendable. Paul continued to practice his Jewish faith; yet, he became a tenacious advocate for nonJews coming directly into the faith community without being required to adopt Jewish ritual practices. We misunderstand his life if we assume he converted FROM Judaism to Christianity.
Lent requires that we repent of the evils in our lives. To repent involves turning to God for the forgiveness and grace required to turn from what hinders our relationship with God, Christ, and the Spirit. In Paul’s case, that did not involve relinquishing moral evil so much as it did ceasing to love the wrong things and making central what would energize and transform his life, his relationship with Christ
Making that spiritual move for many of us would involve a similar recentering of life; our letting go would differ from his in content but would be a similar recentering on Christ rather than dogma, ritual, or whatever has slipped into the center of our focus other than our relationship with Christ and our share in God’s mission in the world.
Paul did not cease practicing his Jewish faith, but he did cease depending on his heritage and obedience to give him an edge with God over others. He came to depend only on his relationship with Jesus. What would that look like in your life? How would your life become different if you ceased giving primary allegiance and loyalty to lesser loves and made all else secondary to your loyalty to and dependence on God and your participation in God’s saving mission. What have you assumed gave you an edge over others with God? What have you counted on to assuage your anxieties other than your relationship with God. Do you have your list started?
U2’s song gets at the idea, challenging us to bring along only what we can’t leave behind.
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring . . .
And love is not the easy thing . . .
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can’t leave behind.
. . . . .
Leave it behind
You’ve got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind.
* U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind.” Universal International Music, 2000.
Collect of the Day, The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 217)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Absalom Jones, priest (died 13 Feb 1818 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Absalom Jones
Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For Education
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP 261)
In the Order of Worship for Evening
Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Epistle, Philippians 3:1-11
3:1Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. 2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! 3For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— 4even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh.
If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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