Declaring a State of Moral Emergency
- davidwperk
- Nov 28, 2023
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Proper 29, the week of the last Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Old Testament reading:
1:1An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
2 A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and rages against his enemies. 3The LORD is slow to anger but great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
You will find the full text of today’s Old Testament reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 994)
AM, Psalms (120), 121-123 PM, 124-126 (127)
Nahum 1:1-13; 1 Peter 1:13-25; Matthew 19:13-22
Today we celebrate the Feast of Kamehameha and Emma. (See below.)
David's Reflections
In December 1991 the world looked on in amazement as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics crumbled without an invasion from the outside. A regime that had come to power and survived for more than eight decades by violence and oppression simply had atrophied and died. We have witnessed the demise of other oppressive and aggressive nations and empires and the virtual end of colonial oppression by the major European powers (although various forms of military and economic oppression still victimize some of the old colonial nations)
Nahum's prophetic oracles came during the late seventh century BCE (about 612), at the time of the fall of the Assyrian Empire. Assyria had dominated the Middle East for centuries; the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered by Assyria in 722 BCE and many of the people had been exiled from their homeland to Assyria. Isaiah's prophecies preserve the memory of that event and of Assyria’s expansion spilling over into the southern kingdom of Judah and reducing it to vassal status.
Nahum’s prophecy reminds us that any nation that practices oppression will find itself under divine judgment. God resisted Pharaoh and delivered Moses and the Israelites from that oppressive slavery, and that God always can be counted on to fight for the powerless and the weak.
The biblical prophets were quick to remind their kings of that prospect and to caution against the exploitation of the weak and powerless within the borders of Israel and Judah. We do well to heed these ancient seers; they had a fix on God’s nature, which includes God’s unrelenting resistance and certain judgment of oppressors.
The church continues to hear that divine call to embrace the values of justice and mercy and stand with those who are neglected and exploited. We are called to speak truth to power and to act prophetically to relieve suffering and embrace those oppressed. To do so will put us side by side with a merciful and just God who is working in the world for justice and deliverance. To remain silent and not dissent makes us complicit with the powers who exploit people and ravage them of their dignity.
Call to mind one of our baptismal promises.
Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the
dignity of every human being? People: I will, with God’s help.*
Rabbi Abraham Heschel accepted an invitation from John F. Kennedy to a conference in DC with other religious leaders in the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. His acceptance telegram concluded: "I propose that you, Mr. President, declare a state of moral emergency. The hour calls for moral grandeur and spiritual audacity.”+ Heschel marched from Selma to Montgomery with King. When asked why he was there, he responded that he was praying with his feet.
We can hear Nahum doing just that, declaring a state of moral emergency. How would our lives and the lives of our faith communities change were we more fully to live into moral grandeur and spiritual audacity? Like Heschel we can speak our dissent and act it out, we can pray with our feet.
+https://www.pbs.org/video/spiritual-audacity-the-abraham-joshua-heschel-story-i3ptfo/ I would encourage you to view this amazing documentary about Heschel.
*Book of Common Prayer, p. 305.
Collect of the Day, The Last Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 236)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Kamehameha and Emma of Hawaii (died 30 Nov 1864 and 25 Apr 1885 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Kamehameha and Emma
O God, who called your servants Kamehameha and Emma to an earthly throne that they might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave them zeal for your church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we also may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; 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 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 those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen. (BCP, 823)
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 Old Testament Reading, Nahum 1:1-13
1:1An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
2 A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and rages against his enemies. 3The LORD is slow to anger but great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 4He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither, and the bloom of Lebanon fades. 5The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it. 6Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and by him the rocks are broken in pieces. 7The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him, 8even in a rushing flood. He will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 Why do you plot against the LORD? He will make an end; no adversary will rise up twice. 10Like thorns they are entangled, like drunkards they are drunk; they are consumed like dry straw. 11From you one has gone out who plots evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness. 12Thus says the LORD, "Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. 13And now I will break off his yoke from you and snap the bonds that bind 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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