Give Us Hearts to Apprehend
- davidwperk
- May 28, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Proper 3, The Week of Trinity Sunday
The Rev. David W Perkins, Th.D.
Give Us Hearts to Apprehend
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ 39But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 969)
AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39
Prov. 15:16-33; 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8; Matt. 12:33-42
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mechtild of Magdeburg. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
John Oxenham in his poem, “A Little Te Deum writes:
For ears to hear the heavenly harmonies;
For eyes to see the unseen in the seen;
For vision of the Worker in the work;
For hearts to apprehend Thee everywhere;
We Thank Thee, Lord.+
Jesus’ questioners in today’s Gospel could have benefited from Oxenham’s prayer. They needed ears to hear, eyes to see, and a vision of the Worker in the work. In spite of Jesus’ ministries of healing and deliverance from evil spirits, they are asking for a sign, a visible and tangible proof of God’s presence and activity in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus responded that the only sign they would have would be his future resurrection, which he compared to Jonah’s deliverance from the great fish.
What’s the harm in Jesus’ providing a sign? First, God does not dance to our expectations. We may have certain expectations of the ways God works, and those expectations can blind us to other, unexpected ways in which God is working all around us. Such was the case with Jesus and his observers.
Also, it is not God’s task to respond to our expectations; rather, it is our challenge to respond to the light God gives. We cannot choose that light nor dictate to God how and when God acts. Our challenge is to respond to the light God gives. That is enough. God seeks to tease us to faith, not overwhelm us with so much light that we find ourselves compelled to submit.
Also, we are held accountable for our response to the truth and the light God allows to come our way. Others may well be coming to faith with far less to go on than we already have. Such would explain Jesus’ words about The people of Jonah’s day responded to far less light in Jonah’s preaching than Jesus was shining on these people. The queen of the south responded to Solomon, a far lesser light than Jesus.
This passage cautions us to exercise caution about our response to the truth about God and Christ that we already know. Rather than asking for more light, we must ask what we have been doing with the light we have. Let us join with Oxenham and pray that God will give us hearts to apprehend.
For ears to hear the heavenly harmonies;
For eyes to see the unseen in the seen;
For vision of the Worker in the work;
For hearts to apprehend Thee everywhere;
We Thank Thee, Lord.
+John Oxenham, “A Little Te Deum of the Commonplace.”
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 227)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mechtild of Magdeburg, mystic (died ca 1282 CE)
Collect of the Feast of Mechtild of Mageburg
Draw the souls of your people into your love, O God, that like your servant Mechtild, we may yearn to be fully yours, for you know us better than we can know ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For the Nation
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP,258)
A Collect for the Presence of Christ
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 12:33-42
33 ‘Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.’
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ 39But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For just as Jonah was for three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. 41The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here! 42The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
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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