Embracing Jesus’ Bold Expectancy
- davidwperk
- May 31, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Friday, May 31, 2024
Proper 3, The week of Trinity Sunday
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
31 He put before them another parable: `The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.'
33 He told them another parable: `The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 968)
AM Psalm 31; PM Psalm 35
Prov. 23:19-21,29-24:2; 1 Tim. 5:17-22(23-25); Matt. 13:31-35
Today we celebrate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (See below.)
David's Reflections
German scholar Ernst Fuchs once remarked about Jesus’ faith, "Because he believed that God would honour his word, Jesus cast himself completely into the present--and was crucified. That was his self-surrender." * Can we see that remarkable expectant faith in these parables? By his teaching and action he embodied his faith in the power of God’s kingly reign in action to utterly transform the creation and humankind. God's kingly rule would be like a mustard shrub sprouting from one tiny seed, a shrub as large as a tree and providing nesting space for all kinds of birds (persons). God's kingly rule would be like a piece of soured dough from a previous baking that could, by its fermenting power, causing an entire bushel of flour to rise in the baking process.
Would it be too much of a stretch to see Jesus himself as the initial mustard seed and the initial lump of leaven? No ministry could begin smaller than did his, one prophet/rabbi beginning by calling a few people to join him in the ministries of preaching, teaching, and healing. He certainly embodied the spreading branches of the mustard shrub, with all kinds of people finding a nest in him.
How does our faith compare to that of Jesus? We are not talking here about mere optimism that large numbers of persons will be drawn to the message of God's saving love. We are not talking about a faith that sustains itself by witnessing and acting expectantly in ministry. We are talking about worshipping and serving with bold, daring expectancy.
Jesus' kind of faith knows. Jesus' kind of faith envisions. Jesus’ kind of faith imagines. Jesus' kind of faith dreams. Jesus’ kind of faith acts expectantly. How could one person be so bold, so irrational, so risk-taking? We cannot look inside Jesus' psychological and emotional makeup. The Gospels do not give us that angle of vision. Rather, we can look at the daring his healings required. We can marvel at the daring required to teach as these parables indicate. We can wonder at his faith in the ability of people to be sparked into faith and action by parables, since he seemed so committed to teaching that way.
Now, ask yourself. How does our faith compare with that? We’ve lived with subnormal for so long that Jesus' kind of normal looks abnormal to us. Let us pray to be so saturated with the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God, that subnormal expectations and safe, non-risky faith, will become anathema to us. Let us resolve to embody Jesus’ faith in risky witness and service and in bold expectation of new life springing up as a result.
What action feels daunting right now? Will we depend on the Spirit’s presence to drive us forward.? Will we dare that risky behavior outside our comfort zones? Will we simply ask Jesus to exercise his bold, expectant faith in and through us? Patrick Overton put it well in verse.
When we walk to the edge of all the light we have
and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown,
we must believe that one of two things will happen--
There will be something solid for us to stand on,
Or,, we will be taught how to fly.+
* Ernst Fuchs, cited by Etta Linneman, Parables of Jesus: Introduction and Exposition, trans. John Sturdy (London: S. P. C. K., 1966), p. 63, n. 1.
+Patrick Miles Overton, "Faith," in The Leaning Tree. (St. Louis: Bethany, 1975), p. 92.
Collect of the Day, Trinity Sunday
Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 228)
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Collect of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; 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 Fridays
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (BCP, 123)
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 of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 280, 515, 528, 540)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 13:31-35
31 He put before them another parable: `The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.'
33 He told them another parable: `The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.'
34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:
`I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.'
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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