Keeping Up With Jesus

Daily Office Devotional, Wednesday, February 21, 2024

The week of the first Sunday in Lent

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

Ember Day

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

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

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 953)

AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]

Gen. 37:25-36; 1 Cor. 2:1-13; Mark 1:29-45

Today we celebrate the Feast of John Henry Newman. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

Keeping up with Jesus on the day related in today’s reading would have been exhausting and stretching.  Mark has painted a picture in today’s reading of one day in Jesus’ life, a day crammed with teaching and healing activity.  So many people were pressing in on him for healing that he had to become mobile to escape the press of the crowds for time to pray; and, he felt compelled to move on to other places in Galilee that he might preach the message of God’s kingly realm.

What does it mean for Jesus to say “The time has been fulfilled, the kingdom of Heaven is at hand?”  Mark’s narrative answers that it means to preach this good news of God’s deliverance and to effect that deliverance through teaching, healings and exorcisms.

What does it mean for us to be with Jesus today?  For Peter and the others it meant a kind of mobile daring.  They left the comfort of their hometowns and their established vocations to accompany Jesus and to depend on the generosity of others, including women of privilege for financial sustenance  (See Luke 8:1-3.) Obviously, your or my path cannot imitate theirs.  But, the question remains, “If I make following Jesus the central intent of my life, how will that change my approach to living this day?”

Sam Portaro wrote that “. . . the path of discipleship sometimes leads not to the obvious but to the adventurous;  does not soothe, but stretches.  The fullness we seek for our own hearts may be found when we offer ourselves to fill the hollows of God's heart." * Today, what is my intent?  Is following Jesus central?  Do I dare make it so?  Where might that take me?  Do I trust God’s love enough to say that I will go wherever Jesus goes before me today at work, at school, at home, in my evening activities? Will I keep up with Jesus?

These disciples were stretched well beyond their comfort zones, but they persisted in following Jesus.  I pray for more of that kind of daring and courage.  How might God stretch you today?  How might your response to God “fill the hollows of God’s heart” today?  How much it must have meant to Jesus to have them with him.  How much will it mean to him today for you and me to be willing to be with him wherever he goes in our day? Jesus will grant us the grace to keep up with him.

Biblical scholar Robert Karris put it so well. “"Following him is not a task which is added to others like working a second job. . . . it is everything.  It is a solemn commitment which forces the disciples-to-be to reorder all their other duties.”+

*Brightest and Best:  A Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts  (Cambridge, MA:  Cowley), 1998, pp. 54-55.

+Robert Karris, Invitation to Luke (Garden City, NY:  Image, 1977), p. 130.

Collect of the Day, The First Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 218)

Collect for Wednesday in the first week of Lent

Bless us, O God, in this holy season, in which our hearts seek your help and healing; and so purify us by your discipline that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Holy Women, Holy Men, p. 38)

Ember Days: I. For those to be ordained

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 256)

Note: For more on Ember Days see https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/ember-days/

Today we celebrate the Feast of John Henry Newman, priest and theologian (died 11 Aug 1890 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/john_henry_newman.htm https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-Henry-Newman

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 Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For Guidance

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you

would  have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 832)

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

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel, Mark 1:29-45

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

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