Hoping For Too Little
- davidwperk
- Feb 21, 2022
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, February 20, 2006
The week of the seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
21Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 23Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 949)
AM Psalm 106:1-18; PM Psalm 106:19-48
Prov. 3:11-20; 1 John 3:18-4:6; John 11:17-29
Today we celebrate the Feast of John Henry Newman. (See below.)
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, John 11:17-29
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 23Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ 24Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ 25Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ 27She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’
28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.
David’s Reflections
Gabriel Marcel once said about faith, "To believe in someone . . . , to place confidence in him, is to say 'I am sure that you will not betray my hope, that you will respond to it, that you will fulfill it.' . . . But it is abundantly clear that the assurance which we have proposed is by no means a conviction; . . . it is a jump, a bet--and, like all bets, it can be lost." *
Martha seems sure, in today’s reading, that Jesus would be able to fulfill her hope. “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Whether there is a complaint beneath those words, something like, “But you weren’t,” or whether we are hearing nothing more than an affirmation of trust with no unexpressed questions, matters not. Martha believes that Jesus would have been able to heal her brother’s illness.
Her devotion and trust have found expression in her leaving her sister and going out to meet an approaching Jesus. And, her words express what her approach express, a deep trust in Jesus’ power and love.
Her sister Mary did not accompany her and the narrative leaves us wondering why not. Was she preoccupied with logistical matters? Was she indeed disappointed that Jesus had not come sooner? Was she so crushed that even walking to meet Jesus was beyond her? But, when Martha returned to tell her that Jesus was asking after her, Mary herself went out to meet Jesus.
How often have you and I had hopes that we entrusted to Jesus, believing that Jesus would respond, only to learn that we had hoped for too little. Jesus had challenged Martha with a cryptic remark that encouraged her yet to hope for her brother’s healing and restoration, even from death. “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.” Martha had given up hope for her brother in this life. Now, was Jesus saying that she should retain such hope?
Today’s Gospel encourages us to look behind those hopes we have relinquished. Could what we had not dared to hope for be possible? Could that dead place be raised? Could that crushed dream be revived? Could that failure yet be redeemed? If Jesus were to say to you, “Your _______ shall rise again,” what hope relinquished would come to mind? Are we indeed hoping for too little too far removed into the future, as was Martha?
Can we make the jump, in Marcel’s words? Jesus’ approach will trigger the energy that opens up the option and makes it possible. But, we will still have to say “yes.” “No thanks” always remains an option. Had Martha not taken the jump, what would she have missed?
* Gabriel Marcel, cited in Leander E. Keck, A Future for the Historical Jesus: The Place of Jesus in Preaching and Theology (Nashville: Abingdon, 1971), p. 47.
Collect of the Day, Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)
Today we celebrate the Feast of John Henry Newman, priest and theologian (died 11 Aug 1890 CE),.
Collect of the Feast of John Henry Newman
God of all wisdom, we offer thanks for John Henry Newman, whose eloquence bore witness that your Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic, even amid the changes and cares of this world: Grant that, inspired by his words and example, we may ever follow your kindly light till we rest in your bosom, with your dear Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit; for you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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)
A Collect for All Baptized Christians
Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 247)
A Collect for Early Evening
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, 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)
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