Birthing New Creation
- davidwperk
- Apr 3
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Thursday, April 3, 2025
The week of the fourth Sunday in Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Romans reading:
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 954)
AM Psalm 69:1-23(24-30)31-38; PM Psalm 73
Jer. 22:13-23; Rom. 8:12-27; John 6:41-51
Today we celebrate the Feast of Richard of Chichester. (See below.)
David's Reflections
We lived in the mountains of eastern Kentucky when our first child, beloved Benjamin, was born. The doctor violated the hospital rules in place at that point and allowed me into the labor and delivery rooms to be present with Nancy at birth. The labor was long--seventeen hours. I was her labor coach, helping with breathing and encouraging her. Then, the birth happened rather quickly. The contractions and labor pains were so intense that our goal to have two children seemed rather ambitious. Could she go through that again? Well, she did, and our incredible daughter, Katie, was the result. And, at that point rules had changed to allow fathers to share the experience of birth via a prenatal class for couples.
Paul uses the metaphor of labor pains with reference to the agony and suffering of the creation in bondage to corruption and death. And, he observes that we, too, groan in synch with God and a world gripped by the labor pains of birthing God's new creation. Paul reframes the excruciating sufferings of this present time as birth pangs, a refreshing and hopeful vision of the future. The joy of a child’s birth reframes all the travails of pregnancy, and expectant parents find energy for the travail because of that hope of new life.
In verse 26, the English text says, "The Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." Although the term can be rendered that way, that translation mystifies me in this context. The Greek word translated "sighs" is the same word translated “groans” earlier. Why not remain consistent with the images in the context, as does the King James translation and others, and render, "The Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words."? The newly released update to the New Revised Standard Translation actually does revert to “groanings” in verse 26.+
Is it that we groan over the travail and suffering around us or is it that we groan in response to the Spirit's groaning? I believe it is the latter. God groans over a broken creation, one quivering on the verge of the birth of new creation. Christ's life, death, and resurrection have initiated that new creation. God's union with the world God created world and with God’s people is so profound that God suffers and groans. Could it be that our personal groanings are our sharing in God’s groanings within us? Could it be that God's own travail over God’s world sparks ours, God groaning in us, as it were? What a vivid feminine image for God—like a mother in labor pain birthing a new creation.
I believe that to be the case. God suffered in Christ to set us free, but that suffering mirrors God's ongoing suffering. If that is the case, our union with God unites us with the divine suffering. That is part of what I hear in Paul's words, "I have been crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20) and in his words, "Buried with Christ by baptism into death." (Rom. 6:3). It is both our joy and sorrow to remain in the garden with Jesus, awake to his cries, and sharing in them, rather than asleep as were Jesus' followers in the garden the night of his arrest.
Anglican poet/priest extraordinaire, G. A. Studdert-Kennedy has said it well:
From "The Suffering God"
Are there no tears in the heart of the Eternal?
Is there no pain to pierce the soul of God?
Then must He be a fiend of Hell infernal,
Beating the earth to pieces with His rod
. . . . . . . .
Then must it mean, not only that Thy sorrow
Smote Thee that once upon the lonely tree,
But that to-day, to-night, and on the morrow,
Still it will come, O Gallant God, to Thee.*
+For an introduction to the New Revised Standard Version revision, called NRSVue, see this link. https://www.zondervan.com/p/nrsvuebible/
*G. A. Studdert Kennedy, The Unutterable Beauty: The Collected Poems of G. A. Studdert Kennedy (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1938), p. 3.
Collect of the Day, The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 219)
Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent
Almighty and most merciful God, drive from us all weakness of body, mind, and spirit; that, being restored to wholeness, we may with free hearts become what you intend us to be and accomplish what you want us to do; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p. 37)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Richard of Chichester, bishop (died 3 April 1253 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Richard of Chichester
Almighty and most merciful God, who calls your people to yourself, we pray that, following the example of your bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see your Son Jesus Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; 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
Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 280)
Daily Office Epistle, Romans 8:12-27
12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ (Aramaic for Father) 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
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
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