Discarding Our Anxieties
- davidwperk
- Apr 15, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, April 15, 2024
The week of the third Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
7Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. . . . 10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 961)
AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15
Exod. 18:13-27; 1 Pet. 5:1-14; Matt. (1:1-17),3:1-6
Today we celebrate the Feast of Damien and Marianne Cope. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you..” Consider the latter half of that statement. “He cares for you.” The “he” refers to God. God cares for you. Can you sit for five minutes and let that reverberate through your being? God cares for you. God loves you. God deeply cares for your well being. Then, consider the invitation. “Cast all your anxiety on God.” Not some but all. What ARE your anxieties? Can you list them? If you were to list them, could you identify the most pressing ones?
What an image—casting them on God. Imagine bundling up those most pressing anxieties and throwing them onto God like a burden transferred. That’s what this remarkable text invites us to do. Bundle up our anxieties in a prayer and throw them onto God. Why? Because it matters to God what troubles us. Because it troubles God that these things trouble us. Because God will share those burdens with us. The implication—the anxieties then burden God and not us. God carries them.
Imagine having one intimate friend with vital faith in whom you could confide about those pressing anxieties. Imagine that person sharing their anxieties with you as well. Imagine together the two of you, and the Christ within each of you, being present to each other in that way. Of course, anxieties recur; they haunt us. So, we must keep casting them on God and entrusting our well being to a God who cares for us and who takes delight in unburdening us.
D. H. Lawrence captures the concept of peace in Christ in this poem.
Pax
All that matters is to be at one with the living God
to be a creature in the house of the God of Life.
Like a cat asleep on a chair
at peace, in peace
and at one with the master of the house, with the mistress,
at home, at home in the house of the living,
sleeping on the hearth, and yawning before the fire.
Sleeping on the hearth of the living world
yawning at home before the fire of life
feeling the presence of the living God
like a great assurance
a deep calm in the heart
a presence
as of the master sitting at the board
in his own and greater being
in the house of life. +
+D. H. Lawrence, Complete Poems, Edited with Introduction and Notes by Vivian de Sola Pinto and F. Warren Roberts (New York: Penguin, 1991), p. 700.
Collect of the Day, Third Sunday of Easter
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 224-225)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Damien and Marianne Cope of Molokai (died 15 Apr 1889 CE and 19 Aug 1918 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Damien and Marianne Cope
Bind up the wounds of your children, O God, and help us to be bold and loving in service to all who are shunned for the diseases they suffer, following the example of your servants Damien and Marianne, that your grace may be poured forth upon all; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever 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 a Birthday
Watch over your child, O Lord, as her/his days increase; bless and guide her/him wherever she/he may be. Strengthen her/him when she/he stands; comfort her/him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her/him up if she/he falls; and in her/his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of her/his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, 830)
In the Evening
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. (BCP, 833)
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, 257)
Daily Office Epistle, 1 Peter 5:1-14
5:1Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight,* not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it*—not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. 5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders.* And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8Discipline yourselves; keep alert.* Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters* throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you, and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13Your sister church* in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
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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