God’s Pencil
- davidwperk
- Mar 22, 2024
- 6 min read
Daily Office Devotional, Friday, March 22, 2024
Friday of the fifth week in Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
42So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 957)
AM Psalm 95 [for the Invitatory] 22; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)
Exod. 9:13-35; 2 Cor. 4:1-12; Mark 10:32-45
Today we celebrate the Feast of James de Koven. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Mother Teresa once said, “"This is what I am, God's pencil. A tiny bit of pencil with which he writes what he likes." * What an image! And what an image for Jesus who said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.” Borrowing from Mother Teresa, we could envision Jesus as God’s pencil; he wrote God’s story of love and salvation into history. That story has been written into our experience through the Spirit of Christ given to us.
As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we enter through the power of the liturgical actions into those dramatic events of Jesus’ final week, and God’s Spirit brings those grace-filled events into our present experience as well. Sunday, we walk with Jesus into Jerusalem in the Palm Sunday processional. Thursday, we share his final meal, wash each other’s feet, and watch with him in the Garden of Repose with reserved sacrament for Good Friday. Friday, we stand at the foot of the cross and take our baptismal place of death with Christ. Saturday night, we feel the rush and joy of his risen presence bursting forth in the Service of Light and Easter Vigil. We share the life-giving Spirit of Christ’s resurrection. As Romans 6 puts it, “buried with Christ by baptism into death and raised to live a new life.”
That one life lived with such intense focus and integrity has scribed its story so well. And, that story, the story of God’s love and salvation written in his life, death, and resurrection has proven to be open ended. The narrative still goes on, writ in letters large and loving by Christ’s Spirit and by the inspired actions of courageous and committed followers. By faith, our personal and faith community sstories become intertwined with and enclosed within this larger salvation story.
So, fellow pilgrim follower of Christ, how will God write with and in your life during this Holy Week? What unfinished piece of the story of salvation will God write within you in terms of personal deliverance and transformation? What unfinished gathering of others will God write through your loving actions, prayers, and words for those you love who suffer through life without the experience of God’s love?
* Mother Teresa, My Life for the Poor, ed. Jose L. Gonzales, Balado and Janet N. Playfoot (New York: Harper, 1985), p. 95
Collect of the Day, The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 219)
Collect for Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
O Lord, you relieve our necessity out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, p.64).
Today we celebrate the Feast of James de Koven, priest (died 22 Mar 1879 CE)
Collect of the Feast of James de Koven
Almighty and everlasting God, who led your servant James De Koven to honor your presence at the altar, and constantly to point to Christ: Grant that all ministers and stewards of your mysteries may impart to your faithful people the knowledge of your presence and the truth of your grace; through the same 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 Collect for Quiet Confidence
O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 832)
In the Order of Worship for Evening
Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 816-817)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 10:32-45
32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ 37And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 38But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ 39They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’
41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’
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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