Casting Out Remorse
- davidwperk
- Sep 9
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Proper 18, the week of the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrase for reflection from today’s epistle reading:
18What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
You will find the full text of today’s Philippians reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 982)
AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47, 48
1 Kings 16:23-34; Phil. 1:12-30; Mark 16:1-8(9-20)
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Martyrs of Memphis. (See below.)
David's Reflections
What motivates another person? Attributing motives to others puts us in the position of judging their interior lives. What motivates me? Can I even discern the complexity of those motives? Are they ever pure, or are they always mixed? What motivates another? Can I be sure? Should I avoid attributing motives to them? If I have to sift my own motives, perhaps I should be even more cautious about assuming the motives of others.
In today's Epistle Paul questions the motives of some who are preaching and witnessing to their faith. He observes that some preach Christ for the right reasons, but that others do so out of jealousy, and that they want to increase Paul's frustration by preaching while he is in prison and lacks the freedom that they have to serve Christ.
Obviously our main motive for sharing our witness would be to see those we care about come to a living faith in Jesus. That would be one key motive for giving our money to the church, for giving our gifts, our energy, our time. We also feel the desire for Christians to have meaningful worship experiences, to have their faith strengthen, to be encouraged, to become more mature, to find strength in crisis, to be more fully interwoven into loving community. We want to discover what God is doing in the world about us and join in. We could construct an open-ended list of all the motives for attending church, for sharing our witness, for giving ourselves and our means in ministries through the church.
Jesus says that we are to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves. Everything said in the previous paragraphs could be summed up in those love commands of Jesus. But, what if my motives are mixed? What if the desire for approval, the sense of guilt, the desire for power or status or other less worthy motives find their place within me as part of the energy behind what I do?
To the extent that I can identify those forces at work I can name them, honestly accept their presence, and seek to lessen their energy. And I can aspire to more pure and worthwhile intent. But, as Paul observes in today's reading, Christ is honored and his cause advanced even when the motives are not honorable. Knowing that helps me relax a bit about my own. It also might cut into my tendency to be sharply judgmental about the motives of others. The message of the Good News about Jesus has its own unique energy that somehow comes through in spite of the flaws in the messenger.
Ultimately nothing in my spirit, history, or activity provides any basis for my relationship with God. Ultimately I am totally dependent on the good will of God and on God’s gracious acceptance. The more fully I can relax into that reality, the more pure my motives probably will become, purged of the dregs of self-interest by the incendiary flames of gratitude.
Perhaps you’ve read these lines of Yeats from his poem “A Dialogue of Self and Soul.” Would that we could join him in casting out remorse and experiencing the resulting spirit of celebration and gratitude.
I am content to follow to its source
Every event in action or in thought;
Measure the lot; forgive myself the lot!
When such as I cast out remorse
So great a sweetness flows into the breast
We must laugh and we must sing,
We are blest by everything,
Everything we look upon is blest. *
* William Butler Yeats, The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats, second rev. ed. Edited by Richard J. Finneran (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996), p. 236.
Collect of the Day, Proper 18, the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (BCP, 233)
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Martyrs of Memphis (died 9-17 Sep 1878).
Collect of the Feast of the Martyrs of Memphis
We give you thanks and praise, O God of compassion, for the heroic witness of the Martyrs of Memphis, who, in a time of plague and pestilence, were steadfast in their care for the sick and dying, and loved not their own lives, even unto death; Inspire in us a like love and commitment to those in need, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, 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 the Unity of the Church
Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 255)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
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 1:12-30
12 I want you to know, beloved that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. 15Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. 20It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— 30since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
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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