God’s Gentle Hands and Our Falling

Devotional Reflection, Friday, October 29, 2021 Proper 25, the week of the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading: 24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. . . . “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from? . . . . 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest. . . .

Today we celebrate The Feast of James Hannington and the Martyrs of Uganda . (See below.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 990) AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51 Neh. 2:1-20; Rev. 6:12-7:4; Matt. 13:24-30

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

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 13:24-30

24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’

David’s Reflections

The lyric poet Rainer Maria Rilke gave us these lines:

We all fall. This hand here falls. And look at others: it's in everyone. And yet there's one who holds this falling infinitely gentle in his hands. *

Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel presents us with a nonretaliatory, gentle image of God, holding our falling gently in divine hands. The farmer has been victimized by an enemy who sowed wild wheat in the wheat field. Only when the wheat began to head out did the difference appear. The farmer would not allow his workers to try weeding out the wild wheat for fear that would have uprooted much good wheat in the process. The farmer allowed both to grow to full maturity and then could cut the wild wheat and bind it in bundles to be used for fuel, prior to the harvesting of the good wheat. Like Rilke’s leaves, we all fall by behaviors similar to that of the farmer’s enemy.

Not one hint of retaliation comes through in anything the farmer says or does. He has no interesting in getting even with his enemy. This calls to mind how God’s kingly rule responds to enemies and adversarial behaviors. God does not retaliate or seek to get even. Rather, in gentleness, God seeks to minimize the damage and salvage the wheat. God even takes evil intended to ruin and harm (wild wheat) and uses it to advance the divine purpose, the cross of Christ being the supreme example (wild wheat used for fuel).

Would that we could take a page from Jesus’ teaching about God’s gentleness and incorporate more of that gentleness into our own lives. Imagine how much emotional and physical violence would be avoided were we to emulate the farmer, the one who showed no interest in violence and whose behavior reminds us of the gentleness of God, who “holds this falling infinitely gently in his hands.”

* Rainer Maria Rilke, "Herbst/Autumn," translated by Robert Detweiler in his work, Breaking the Fall: Religious Readings of Contemporary Fiction (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1995).

Collect of the Day, Proper 25 The Sunday closest to October 26 Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 235)

Today we celebrate the Feast of James Hannington (died 29 Oct 1885 CE and the Martyrs of Uganda. http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/James_Hannington.htm

Collect for The Feast of Feast of James Hannington and the Martyrs of Uganda. O God, by whose providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church: Grant that we who remember before you James Hannington and his companions, may, like them, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ, to whom they gave obedience even to death, and by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest; 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)

A Prayer for Light

Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. (BCP, 111)

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)