Being Right and Wrong in the Same Moment

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, February 2, 2023

Thursday of the fourth week after Epiphany

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th,D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28And

they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter

answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

(You will find the full text of this Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 946)

AM Psalm [70], 71; PM Psalm 74

Isa. 55:1-13; Gal. 5:1-15; Mark 8:27-9:1

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. (See below.)

David's Reflections

The Gospel for today has Peter being both right and wrong. Jesus asked his followers who they had come to believe that he was. Peter, the spokesperson for the Twelve, expressed what they all had concluded from their discussions. Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. That word, "messiah," means "anointed one." They had come to see Jesus as the one whom God had anointed with the Spirit to serve as Israel's savior and deliverer. That anointing took place in Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1).

Jesus did not refute Peter, but he ordered them not to disclose this to anyone. We're not quite sure why that was the case; perhaps the term had inflammatory political associations. In fact, he substituted a more vague term, son of Man, for Peter’s confessional word, messiah. Then, he predicted that he would be delivered to the religious leaders, crucified and then raised from the dead.

Now Peter, who had been so correct, proved equally incorrect. Again, acting as the spokesperson for the group, Peter took Jesus aside and rejected this idea of suffering and death. Crucifixion was a punishment reserved for traitors and rebels. The Twelve must have assumed that Jesus’ being Messiah involved some sort of political deliverance, akin to what David and Moses, by God’s power, had effected. David delivered Israel from the Philistines; Moses, from the Egyptians. They might have understood Jesus to be saying something like, "I am the Messiah, but the Romans will capture me and execute me as a traitor.” Palestine had seen more than its share of messianic pretenders come to such an end.

The Twelve believed that Jesus would succeed in delivering Israel, so they rejected what they heard as his prediction of failure. That they could not accept. Peter, who had been so right, now so wrong, found himself confronted by Jesus as speaking from a merely human point of view and as sounding like Satan had in the wilderness temptations. Jesus challenged the Twelve to embrace his understanding of messiahship as one of suffering to deliver Israel from spiritual bondage (See Isaiah 53 for that understanding of the role of innocent suffering.)

This Gospel challenges us to be constantly aware of our concepts of who Jesus is, who God is, and how we expect them to act. What are our expectations of God? Whom do we say God is? Whom do we say Jesus is?

Have we prayed, based on certain expectations, been disappointed with the outcome, and walked away with disappointment, doubt, broken faith, and anger because those expectations were not realized? Perhaps an errant understanding of God and misguided expectations lay at the heart of our struggles.

Can we look behind frustrated expectations for a different, more enlightened understanding of God? Perhaps in the shadow of our frustration is a quiet, gentle rebuke from the God who refuses to be bound by our expectations but who always proves ready to shine more light upon us.

Collect of the Day, Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the

Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Purification.htm

Collect of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen..

A Collect for Guidance

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 100)

Of the Holy Eucharist (Especially suitable for Thursdays)

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)

In the Evening

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. (BCP, 833)

A Collect for Mission

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 124)

Daily Office Gospel, Mark 8:27-9:1

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28And

they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter

answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and

follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For

what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ 1And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer Noonday Prayer, p. 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