Come and See

Daily Office Devotional, Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Proper 13, The week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ 39He said to them, ‘Come and see.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 979)

AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82

Judges 7:19-8:12; Acts 3:12-26; John 1:29-42

Today we celebrate the Feast of John Mason Neale. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

“Come and see.”  That invitation from Jesus operates at two levels in John’s Gospel.  At the story level, Jesus dwells in a certain location and invites the inquirers to come and see it.  At a second, symbolic level, Jesus dwells in the Father, he relates to the Father as his only Son.  Thus, to “come and see” means to follow Jesus and to believe in him.  “Come” for John’s Jesus means follow. “See” means to have faith.  At that narrative, symbolic level the inquirers would be those who follow Jesus, believe in him, and share his dwelling place in God.

John 14 images God as an expansive dwelling place with many living spaces.  Jesus says to the disciples in that passage that to “see” him, to believe in him, is to “see” God.  I find that image compelling, God as a vast dwelling place.  The Christian life then becomes a delightful adventure of exploring that dwelling, of trusting ourselves to the God whose hospitality receives us into a spiritual space that takes a lifetime and more even to begin the exploration.

Have I gotten past the foyer?  Every abiding place in this house is open to all believers.  God has no “secret rooms” accessible only to the spiritual elite.  He invites us to spend time and invest our energies in living more deeply into our relationship with God, going farther into this vast dwelling place.

How does Jesus’ invitation, “come and see,” speak to us today?  If we focused more of our time and energy consciously seeking to follow Jesus and to deepen our trust in him, how would our lives be different?  If we decided to live more fully into that unseen world, that vast dwelling place that is God, what would change in our daily life?  How would our priorities shift?  How would our schedules change?  What current interests and pursuits might become less of a priority or disappear from our lives?

The poet Rilke once wrote: "What is going on in your innermost being is worthy of your whole love." * Not only do we abide in God, but God abides in us. God is going on in our innermost being.  God’s Spirit is stirring and creating restless longings for a more profound spiritual journey and for more concrete expressions of our love and devotion in worship, service, and witness.  To answer those stirrings, to respond to the invitation to “come and see,” to give our whole love to those recurring whisperings would put us in company today with those two early followers who “came and saw.”

*Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, (New York:  Norton, 1954), pp. 46-47.   

Collect of the Day, Proper 13. The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 232)

Today we celebrate the Feast of John Mason Neale, scholar, missionary, translator (died 6 Aug 1866 CE).

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

Collect of the  Feast of John Mason Neale

Grant, O God, that in all time of our testing we may know your presence and obey your will; that, following the example of your servant John Mason Neale, we may with integrity and courage accomplish what you give us to do, and endure what you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 259)

A Collect for Early Evening

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel, John 1:29-42

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ 32And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ 35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ 39He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

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