Living With Radical Amazement
- davidwperk
- Oct 9, 2023
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, October 9, 2023
Proper 22, the week of the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.
You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 986)
AM Psalm 106:1-18; PM Psalm 106:19-48
2 Kings 21:1-18; 1 Cor. 10:14-11:1; Matt. 8:28-34
Today we celebrate the Feast of Robert Grosseteste. (See below.)
David's Reflections
How does a Christian relate to those outside the church in professional and social circles? Can one keep the boundaries to a minimum while being true to their convictions? Jesus moved freely in the world of his day, disdaining religious strictures that prevented socialization between the devout and those with little or no connection to the faith community.
Some of Jesus’ contemporaries, committed to a theology of purity, ultimately rejected him and collaborated in seeking his death, motivated in part by their rejection of his close contact with those they regarded as unclean. That acceptance of outcasts was a tacit call for the religious leadership to be reconciled to them and to incorporate them into the religious life of the people. Such reconciliation would have required a complete redrawing of their religious boundaries; instead, they rejected Jesus, as they had rejected the outcasts. (Note that the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 comes in the context of the command to love God and neighbor.)
Paul's spirit was akin to that of Jesus. One of his core values was witness, sharing the message of Jesus' saving love with those outside, both Jewish and non-Jewish (note v. 33 above). He was encouraging the Corinthians to follow that example. But, there were situations he advised the Corinthians to avoid. This passage gives us one such situation.
The religious and social rituals behind this passage are complex and distant from our religious and cultural practices. Much of the meats sold in the markets had originally been offered to a deity in a pagan temple. Some of that meat was offered to the deity, some was consumed in feasts at the temple, and the remainder was sold in public markets. Paul argues from the significance of the Eucharist as a sharing in the blood and body of Christ to the conclusion that a Christian does not belong in the pagan temple in a demonic atmosphere, even if s/he knows that the idols are not real.
I am struck by his reference to sharing in the body and blood of Christ. Through Holy Eucharist we receive Christ's presence into our lives in bread and wine, thus uniting ourselves to Christ and to one another (see verses 16-17 below). We as the church are one loaf, united through the ongoing celebration of Holy Eucharist. A brother or sister with whom we may disagree politically or theologically stands or kneels next to us, receiving Christ's body and blood. How we treat that person will be at the same time the way we are treating Christ in that person.
Also, we are taking Christ in us into the activities in which we engage and to the people to whom we relate. We are united with Christ. Wherever we go and to whatever and whomever we relate, we are relating Christ in us to that person or situation. That awareness makes each day, each contact, each activity sacred. That awareness also can guide us as we decide where to go, what to do, and to whom to relate.
Rabbi and scholar, Abraham Heschel, put it very well.
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement...get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal. ...To be spiritual is to be amazed.”+
+Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man, cited in David Brooks, "Alone and Not Alone," NY Times OpEd piece, Jan 27, 2014
(Note: I have not been able to find this quote in that partiucular book, even though it’s vintage Heschel. I’ve emailed Brooks to ask for documentation.)
Collect of the Day, Proper 22, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 234)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Robert Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln (died 8/9 Oct 1253 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Robert Grosseteste
O God, our heavenly Father, who raised up your faithful servant Robert Grosseteste to be a bishop and pastor in your church and to feed your flock: Give abundantly to all pastors the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; 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 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 Those Who Mourn
Merciful God, whose Son Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus: look with compassion on all who are bound by sorrow and pain through the death of N. (or a loved one). Comfort them, grant them the conviction that all things work together for good to those who love you, and help them to find sure trust and confidence in your resurrection power; through Jesus Christ our deliverer. Amen. (Enriching Our Worship: 2, pp. 65-66)
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)
Daily Office Epistle, 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1
14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
23 ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. 24Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. 25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, 26for ‘the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.’ 27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.
11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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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