Faith that Matters

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, October 5, 2023

Proper 21, the week of the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

24‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

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

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 986)

AM Psalm 105:1-22; PM Psalm 105:23-45

2 Kings 18:28-37; 1 Cor. 9:1-15; Matt. 7:22-29

David's Reflections

Both Matthew's and Luke's versions of this sermon end with this parable. (called the Sermon on the Mount because of the location of Matthew’s version, (Mt 5-7 and Lk 6), Matthew's version of the parable in today’s Gospel reading presents us with a vivid image of Palestinian topography and life. One might be tempted to build their house at the base of one of those deep gullies (wadis) as a shelter against winter weather. However, the fall and spring thunderstorms would fill those dry wadis with gushing flash floods washing everything away in their path.

Jesus here makes a rather striking if implicit claim about his identity. We are challenged to base our lives on his words, not just on hearing and admiring and feeling emotionally positive about them, but rather on hearing and practicing them. Obviously, if his teaching (as we have it in Matthew 5-7 for example) has that sort of compelling authority and validity, then the teacher must be God's Son and the Messiah (anointed savior). To obey Jesus' teaching corresponds to building the house of our life upon a rock that will stand the tests of adversity and the ultimate test of God's judgment.

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus' person and teaching? Does it mean to sympathize with his teachings, to agree with them, to study them, to discuss them? It means all that but more as well. It means to trust the truthfulness of Jesus' teachings enough to put them into practice. Practicing his teaching then becomes the measure of the depth of our faith and the ultimate expression of that faith. We trust our destiny and our well being to him so radically that we release ourselves to his teaching and obey it without regard to the consequences.

That can be a rather sticky and demanding and unpleasant business. Jesus' teaching demands such actions as loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, giving liberally of our possessions, witnessing to our faith at the risk of rejection, persecution, serving others regardless of our station in life or theirs, and even death. It means following our inner convictions as to what God is calling on us to do when others disagree and disapprove and when it hurts us financially, politically, and vocationally. It means sharing Jesus’ place of rejection and misunderstanding in our world. To put it simply, Jesus’ teaching calls us to devote ourselves ultimately to God and to others.

In a sense all faithful relationships work with similar dynamics. We can say we love and trust someone, but we actually demonstrate that trust them only when we risk entrusting ourselves to them and trusting them deeply. Our faithfulness to them arises out of that trust, expresses that trust, and deepens it. Their faithful responses to us enrich and deepen our trust.

When we say in the Creed, "We believe in Jesus Christ," we are saying that we trust in Jesus radically enough to obey his teachings. We may do so with anxiety and fear about where that may take us, but trust him we will and follow his teachings we will. We will trust him to energize us and strengthen our wills and nurture us in our fears and anxieties. We will set our hearts on him.

Closing lines of "A Prayer"

Grant us the will to fashion as we feel,

Grant us the strength to labour as we know,

Grant us the purpose, ribbed and edged with steel,

To strike the blow.

Knowledge we ask not, knowledge Thou hast lent,

but, Lord, the will--there lies our bitter need,

Give us to build above the deep intent.

The deed, the deed.+

+John Drinkwater, The Collected Poems of John Drinkwater: Volume 1: 1908-1917 (London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1923), pp. 8-9.

COLLECT OF THE DAY, Proper 21, the eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 234)

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

Discipleship

Not very good disciples, Lord. But we are disciples, at least at our best we want to be. Here we are. Here are our wills, our loves, our loyalties, our conflicts. Here are our compromises, our going to and fro, our giving way to pressures, our irresolutions, our failures to be loyal to love.

All these we hold before you and offer them to you, in whom we pray our discipleship to you. We give that discipleship to you now and begin again to live it as we pray it—that is, as you live and pray it within us. You are our prayer and our choices are resolved in you. Amen. [John Coburn, A Life to Live—A Way to Pray (New York: Seabury, 1973), p. 64.]

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards

of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 259)

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)

Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 7:22-29

22On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” 23Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” 24‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!’ 28Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

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