Cracking Open Our Stories to New Endings
- davidwperk
- Oct 23, 2023
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 23, 2023
Proper 24, the week of the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 988)
AM, Psalm 25; PM, Psalms 9, 15
Jer.44.:1-14; 1 Cor. 15:30-41; Matt. 11:16-24
Today we celebrate the Feast of James of Jerusalem. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Some of Jesus' actions and oracles remind me of the style of the Hebrew prophets; Jesus indeed lived with the sense that he was a prophet (see Mark 6:4, Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.”) The prophets spoke for God, interpreting God's will regarding the past, present, and future. They did not merely foretell the future; rather, as one of my seminary profs once observed, they "forthtold" God's will and purpose.
Here, Jesus speaks out against the blindness and obduracy of the people to whom he had spoken and in whose sight he had done healings. They had seen Jesus act with God's authority and had heard him speak with that authority; yet, they had not turned to God with faith and commitment and resolved to obey God’s will.
In fact, they had clung tenaciously to their own definition of a prophet and how the end-time savior would speak and act. Jesus obviously did not conform to those expectations. Children playing in the market would play the "wedding game" (played the flute) and the "funeral game" (wailed to you). (See verse 17 below.) Some had criticized John because his style of life was too austere. They had played the flute but John did not dance. Those same people criticized Jesus because his lifestyle was too given to eating and drinking, especially with the undesirable and outcast. They had played funeral but Jesus had not joined in mourning.
We demonstrate that same tendency, to define the future in terms of our expectations based on past experience and what we've been taught. Such a narrowly defined future expectation surely will miss a great deal of what God is about and up to. In the formation of a new church or redeveloping of an existing church, we are much freer to ask the questions, "What is God up to here?" "Where is God going?" "How can this church take shape in response to where we sense God is taking us?" Local church history and tradition exercise less of an influence.
In a sense, our dearly-held expectations and our oft-repeated story of how life has been and how we want life to be can become an encasing narrative that just keeps re-fulfilling itself in the repetitions. How can we “crack open” that narrative, encased in the hard crust of our retellings? How can we become open to a new ending, a new hope and expectation of the future, set free from the bondage of our predetermining, self-limiting stories? Jesus had a way of cracking open the stories of those he encountered and empowering them to write new endings. What new narratives might begin to emerge were we to dare inviting Jesus to crack open our self-perpetuating, repeated stories?
As we pray in Holy Eucharist in Prayer C, “Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us.” We are accountable to God for keeping our eyes wide open to the light and our ears wide open for God’s voice. We are accountable for how we get caught in our stories and keep living into the same expectations and outcomes.
Kathy Jordan put it very well.
"You are not your stories. They do not define you – unless you let them. Of course, they shape you. And, you have choices as to how they shape you – looking at life through the human tragedy or drama perspective or from the soul journey perspective – that which we are seeking to learn or experience at the soul level. You have the opportunity to continually and always create your own new narrative."+
+Kathy Jourdain, "You Are Not Your Story: Creating New Narratives," https://growinghostingartistry.wordpress.com/2014/02/02/you-are-not-your-story-creating-new-narratives/
©David W. Perkins,2023.
Collect of the Day, Proper 24, the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 235)
Today we celebrate the Feast of James of Jerusalem, bishop and martyr (died ca 62 CE).
Collect of the Feast of James of Jerusalem
Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For the Nation
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 258)
A Prayer for Light
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
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 11:16-24
16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 17“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’Other ancient authorities read children 20Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’
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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