Jesus' Compelling Gentleness

Daily Office Devotional, Thursday, October 26, 2023

Proper 24, the week of the twenty-firstSunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

19He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. 21And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 988)

AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42

Ezra 1:1-11; 1 Cor. 16:1-9; Matt. 12:15-21

Today we celebrate the Feast of Alfred the Great. (See below.)

David's Reflections

John Oxenham once wrote of Jesus:

For Christ is more than all the creeds,

And His full life of gentle deeds

Shall all the creeds outlive.+

"His life full of gentle deeds." That phrase may be less than adequate as a description of some of Jesus' deeds, for example the cleansing of the Temple and certain of Jesus’ exorcisms (Mark 5:1-20). But, as a rubric for a life, Oxenham's words will do quite nicely, a life full of gentle deeds. Today's Gospel quotes from a passage in Isaiah (42:1-4) that describes the Servant of God as a gentle proclaimer of justice.

When a monarch wanted to proclaim policies or laws they would send messengers throughout the realm who would enter each town and village and loudly proclaim the king's will. And, monarchs often exercised their kingly authority with force and brutal strength.

Jesus, however, would fulfill God's kingdom and bring God's will into reality differently. He would not go through the towns and villages trumpeting his identity, nor would he enforce God's will with the coercive might of a tyrant. His was the ministry of a teacher and healer, teaching so couched that one had to look beneath it to find the identity of the teacher, ministry so gentle that those whose lives were wounded and vulnerable would not be crushed.

Jesus came to include all in God's saving mercy and to overthrow injustice and oppression. He would not resort to force or sensationalism to bring about God's salvation. In today’s reading, Jesus withdraws from his adversaries as they plot to kill him. His confrontation with them over tradition did not escalate, thanks to his commitment to the gentleness this Gospel bespeaks.

Our strategies for sharing the message of God's saving love and our ways of relating to the wounded and broken all around us must be laced through with Jesus' gentleness. He is both the lion and the lamb, both the warrior and the healer. A church gathering must be a space so safe that even the most tentative and bruised and frightened will feel the inviting gentleness of the spirit of Jesus and feel safe there. We must be resolved to be a home for the bruised and wounded, with all the challenges and needs they bring. When confrontation threatens, we must find, as did Jesus, ways to deescalate the confrontation without compromising our values and commitment.

Morton Kelsey put it well. “The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners. When the church is really the church, it is a place where we can go in our discouragement about ourselves and find other nonjudging people who have found some answers, methods and ways of doing better. From personal experience and from observation I know that we human beings seldom go far on the way toward Christian fulfillment unless we have others who understand and are willing to bear with us. One of the most important things for those of us who would grow in love of themselves is to find a fellowship of caring people with whom to relate. Some of us need spiritual friends with whom we can discuss all aspects of our lives. The capacity to love others seldom, if ever, grows in a vacuum.”*

+John Oxenham, Selected Poems of John Oxenham. (London: T Fisher Unwin, 1924). p. 2.

*Morton T. Kelsey, Caring: How Can We Love One Another? (New York: Paulist, 1981), p. 53.

Collect of the Day, Proper 24, the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; 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 Alfred the Great, king of the west Saxons (died 16 Oct 899 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Alfred.htm

Collect of the Feast of Alfred

O God, who called your servant Alfred to an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your church and love for your people: Grant that we, inspired by his example and prayers, may remain steadfast in the work you have given us to do for the building up of your reign of love; 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 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)

For Knowledge of God’s Creation

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 827)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

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)

Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 12:15-21

15When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, 16and he ordered them not to make him known. 17This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18‘Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. 21And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’

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