Demand versus Grace: A Fundamental Tension
- davidwperk
- Feb 25
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The week of the seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Yesterday’s Gospel)
20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 948)
AM Psalm (120), 121, 122, 123; PM Psalm 124, 125, 126, (127)
Ruth 1:15-22; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22; Matthew. 5:13-20
Today we celebrate the Feasts of Emily M. Morgan and John Roberts. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Today’s Gospel, taken with yesterday’s, presents us with a fundamental tension in the faith journey. Jesus, in Matthew 5:3 says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” For those sensing their poverty and need for God, sharing in God’s kingly rule and salvation comes as a gift. No conditions attached.
In Matthew 5:20, Jesus says, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” So, which is it? Is our spiritual poverty enough? Or does entering God’s kingly rule and experiencing God’s saving love require holy sweat and rigorous spiritual endeavor?
This digression probably won’t help, but here goes. Jesus seems to be speaking of two kinds of righteousness in verses 17-20. The religious leaders devoted themselves to Hebrew Scripture and their traditions. That yielded a certain type of obedience (righteousness). Jesus’ followers were called to devote themselves to Hebrew Scripture as reread, fulfilled, and embodied in Jesus’ teaching and example. That devotion would yield a richer quality of obedience (righteousness). Like I said, that may not help much.
All relationships involve a dance between gift and demand. Spouses and soul friends give themselves to each other freely and receive each other’s love as gift. Yet to receive that love brings with it the responsibility of responding in kind with love and devotion. No mature spouse or soul friend would claim they have earned or deserved the love of the other; yet they most likely would say that responding to that love with similar devotion and love claims all they have.
We can say we love God all we want. We can say we believe in Jesus all we want. But the evidence for that claim emerges only in the way we live. Receiving God’s undeserved love as gift claims all we are and have and makes us responsible to answer that love with our love and devotion in action and in ongoing relationship with God, being present to God in prayer and worship and embodying God’s love in action.
The Circle Around the Zero
A lover doesn't figure the odds.
He figures he came clean from God
as a gift without a reason,
so he gives without cause
or calculation or limit.
A conventionally religious person
behaves a certain way
to achieve salvation.
A lover gambles everything, the self,
the circle around the zero! He or she
cuts and throws it all away.+
+Rumi, Version by Coleman Barks, Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion
Collect of the Day, Epiphany 7
O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ , who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 236)
Today we celebrate the Feasts of Emily M. Morgan, prophetic witness (died 27 Feb 1937 CE and John Roberts, missionary (died 1949).
Collect of the Feast of Emily M. Morgan
Inspire us, Gracious God, with that same spirit of devotion that animated your servant Emily Malbone Morgan; that, like her, we might dedicate our lives to your service and to the welfare of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Collect of the Feast of John Roberts
Almighty God, who raised up your servant John Roberts to be a witness among the Shoshone and Arapahoe peoples: May we, inspired by his example and prayers, invite all people to the riches of your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 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)
Of the Departed
Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through 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, 253)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, 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 Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20 13 ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,* not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks* one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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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