Faith: A Permeable Boundary

Devotional Reflection, Monday, September 9, 2024

Proper 18, the week of the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. 49Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. 50But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. 51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 983)

AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44

Job 32:1-10,19-33:1,19-28; Acts 13:44-52; John 10:19-30

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Martyrs of Memphis.(See below.)

David’s Reflections

" . . . a boundary is not some kind of fence or wall, but instead, it is more like a gate, which can be opened or closed.”* You could read today’s Acts reading through the lens of boundaries.

Today’s text includes a vivid image that occurs also in the teaching of Jesus (Luke 10 among others).  Verse 51 says Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet in protest against their adversaries in the synagogues.  Jewish popular thought regarded the Temple Mount as the holiest spot on earth.  The farther one moved away from that spot, the less holy the ground became.  When a devout Jewish traveler, committed to this purity understanding, entered the Holy Land from non-Jewish territory, the rituals of passage would include shaking dust off one’s clothing and sandals, dust from that less clean non-Jewish territory.  Thus, this ritual was a boundary rite, one expressing the Jewish sense of election and their conviction that nonJews were unclean.

This practice on the part of Paul and Barnabas, as reported by the author of Acts, goes back to Jesus’ teaching (Mark 3;  Luke 9 and 10).  It inferred that the true dividing line between God’s people and pagans was not one’s ethnic origin (Jew vs nonJew) but one’s response to the good news about God’s salvation in Jesus of Nazareth.  The Paul of Acts was saying to his fellow Jewish countrymen and countrywomen that their rejection of Jesus was their self-exclusion from the people God was forming.  He was turning their ritual of dust shaking against them. The nonJews who believed in Jesus were part of the people of God and they were not.

Can there be a sadder spectacle than to see people divided against one another?  Yet, as Christians we set our hearts on Christ by faith, and that very faith creates a boundary that separates us from those who have not yet set their hearts on Christ.  As uncomfortable as that might make us, that is the reality created by faith.  No matter how permeable we seek to make the boundaries, some are inside and others are outside;  faith and core values and beliefs do create boundaries.

What distinguishes our response to those who reject from their response to us is that we do not allow the faith boundary to distance us from them.  We continue to immerse ourselves in relationships, in witness, in service, and we continue to bathe these people in our prayers (See Paul’s prayers for his fellow Israelites in Romans 9 and 10).  Paul did exactly that, continuing to enter synagogues and to share table fellowship with his fellow Israelites and with nonJews outside his faith communities (See 1 Corinthians 9).

If those in our circle of close friendship and relationship and those in our circle of acquaintance reject faith in Jesus Christ, we refuse to allow that to distance us from them.  We continue to take the approach of Jesus and Paul—radical immersion in the world and radical openness to even the most virulent unbelievers.  If we must shake the dust off our feet by refusing to take the blame for their unbelief, we refuse to shake the image of them from the garments of our hearts and their names from the weavings of our prayers.

" . . . a boundary is not some kind of fence or wall, but instead, it is more like a gate, which can be opened or closed.”*

*Robert Hemfelt, Richard Fowler, Frank Minirth, Paul Meier, The Path To Serenity (Nashville:  Thomas Nelson, 1991), p. 181.

Collect of the Day, Proper 18, the sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts;  for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast in your mercy;  through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.  (BCP, 233)

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Martyrs of Memphis (died died September 1878 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Constance.htm

Collect of the Feast of the Martyrs of Memphis

We give you thanks and praise, O God of compassion, for the heroic witness of the Martyrs of Memphis, who, in a time of plague and pestilence, were steadfast in their care for the sick and dying, and loved not their own lives, even unto death; Inspire in us a like love and commitment to those in need, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for 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)

Of the Holy Spirit

Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; 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, 251)

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, 257)

Daily Office Epistle Reading, Acts 13:44-52

44 The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.* 45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. 46Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. 47For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,

   so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” ’

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. 49Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. 50But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. 51So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

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