Devotional Reflection, Monday, May 6, 2024
The week of the sixth Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow . . . . 9Let anyone with ears listen!’. . . .16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, p. 963)
AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]
Lev. 25:35-55; Col. 1:9-14; Matt. 13:1-16
Rogation Day
David’s Reflections
This parable of Jesus, The Sower, begins and ends with the call to listen. The interpretation Mathew reports as given later to the disciples ends with a beatitude about listening and seeing (see verse 16). Why this focus on hearing? In letters between Boris Pasternak and Olda Ivinskya we find this pearl of wisdom. “When a great moment knocks on the door of your life, its sound is often no louder than the beating of your heart and it is very easy to miss it.' To live a conscious life, we need to constantly refine our listening."+
What a challenge—refining our listening. This kind of listening has particular relevance where Jesus’ teaching and the Bible are concerned. It may be true that we Episcopalians are not as biblically literate as we could or should be; however, the language of the Bible and of Jesus’ teaching comes to us in public worship in the readings, in the sermons, and in the language of The Book of Common Prayer. We know more about the Bible than we think, and yet we can actually be guilty of knowing less through our inattention to what we are hearing.
Can you and I revise our listening, listening more deeply to Holy Scripture in private reading, in public listening, and in its indirect witness through the language of the prayer book? What would that deeper listening look like? Perhaps we could read more slowly? Perhaps we could listen more intentionally, like someone with a full glass of wine attempting not to spill a drop.
How it must grieve Jesus to experience us listening superficially and nonreflectively. He certainly shows awareness of the danger with the repeated warnings in this parable. If we listen superficially, we will likely miss the message that Jesus is sowing fruitful seeds constantly. We will likely miss the message that our capacity to receive God’s word is akin to soil’s capacity to receive seed. We will likely miss the message that our souls and our churches can be far more fruitful than we imagine. We will likely miss the message that our individual lives and our church’s life can be radically transformed by the seed of that message that already has been planted.
“When a great moment knocks on the door of your life, its sound is often no louder than the beating of your heart and it is very easy to miss it.' To live a conscious life, we need to constantly refine our listening."+
+Cited by John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings (New York: Doubleday, 2008), p. 4.
Collect of the Day, Sixth Sunday of Easter
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 225)
Rogation Day: For stewardship of creation
O merciful Creator, whose hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us, we beseech thee, ever thankful for thy loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP. 208)
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)
For a Birthday
Watch over your child, O Lord, as her/his days increase; bless and guide her/him wherever she/he may be. Strengthen her/him when she/he stands; comfort her/him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her/him up if she/he falls; and in her/his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of her/his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, 830)
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
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)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 13:1-16
13:1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!’ 10Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ 11He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” 14With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 15For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.” 16But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
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