Following An Unprocessed Jesus

Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 31, 2022

Proper 26, the week of the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

49 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided:

father against son

and son against father,

mother against daughter

and daughter against mother,

mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

(The full text of today’s Gospel can be found at the bottom of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 991)

AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65

Ecclus. 38:24-34; Rev. 14:1-13; Luke 12:49-59

Today we celebrate All Hallows Eve. (See below.)

David's Reflections

"What we are so often confronted with today is a 'processed' Jesus. Every element that we feel is not consonant with our 'image' of him is removed, and the result is more insipid and unsatisfying than the worst of processed food." * In today’s Gospel, we definitely get an unprocessed Jesus. To paraphrase Jesus, Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. I did not come to bring peace but conflict within families. Given how low the risks are of being a nominal Christian in our culture, have we so processed and tamed Jesus and his radical words that we cannot receive the authentic spirit of Jesus in his most radical teachings?

Perhaps today, we can allow the radical spirit of Jesus to address us with

minimal filtering. The audacity of that Jesus will bring to us the words of God. What does God intend for our lives? We will hear it most closely in Jesus’ words, if we dare listen. To listen calls on us to consider acting on what we hear.

We may be hearing a bit of autobiography here. Like many of our families, Jesus’ family wasn’t all it has been cracked up to be. Jesus brothers (John 7:1-5) did not believe in him. They dared him to go to Jerusalem. Jesus’ mother and brothers once tried to take him home forcibly because they thought he was crazy (Mark 3:20-21, 31). Jesus, the oldest son, had turned away from the culturally defined role of provider for his mother and siblings to pursue his ministry. He had let go of family ties to follow what he knew was God’s call. And, that experience may well lie at the heart of his call for us to detach from family loyalties that shelter us from conflict and limit the scope of our spiritual lives.

We also must take a proper view of the present. Who really is responsible for family strife that arises because of our refusal to give up our commitment? If members of our family are making demands on us that contradict our faith, or if they are hindering our efforts to live out our sense of call, what do we do? Whose example do we follow? Can we accept that the conflict arises from their resistance to God in the face of our commitment. How can there not be conflict between love and unforgiveness, between acceptance and intolerance, between giving and greed, between freedom and addiction, between the radical words of Jesus and our easy believism?

As painful as it may prove, we must let go – not allow anyone or anything, even family to deter us from living after Christ’s example and call. As Ferdinand Hahn once observed, "With the coming of Jesus the ultimate age of peace has not yet dawned, but instead the last struggle has broken out. In what way this struggle is to be carried on is not stated, but the fact that now more than ever is the time of confrontation is decisive.” +

* J. B. Phillips, Ring of Truth: A Translator's Testimony (New York MacMillan, 1967), p. 92.

+Ferdinand Hahn, Titles, p. 153. Cited by W. D. Davies and Dale C. Allison, Jr. The Gospel According to St. Matthew: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary, vol II. The International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1991), pp. 218-219.

Collect of the Day, Proper 26

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today we celebrate All Hallow’s Eve.

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/all-hallows-eve/

Collect for All Hallow’s Eve

Almighty and everliving God, you have made all things in your wisdom and established the boundaries of life and death: Grant that we may obey your voice in this world, and in the world to come may enjoy that rest and peace which you have appointed for your people; through Jesus Christ who is Resurrection and Life, and who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. (Book of Occasional Services:2018, p. 112)

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 Incarnation

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)

A Prayer for Light

Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 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

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 12:49-59

49 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided:

father against son

and son against father,

mother against daughter

and daughter against mother,

mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

54 He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

57 ‘And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case,* or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.’