Make a Bomb of Love
- davidwperk
- Mar 6, 2024
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, March 6, 2024
The week of the third Sunday in Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. . . .27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 955)
AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82
Gen. 45:16-28; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mark 6:13-29
Today we celebrate the Feast of William W. Mayo, Charles Menninger, and their sons (See below.)
David’s Reflections
The Dave Matthews band sings a song entitled “I Did It.”
The opening lyrics and the refrain go like this:
I’m mixing up a bunch of magic stuff
A magic mushroom cloud of care
A potion that will rock the boat will rock
Make a bomb of love and blow it up
(Refrain)
I never did a single thing that did a single thing to
Change the ugly ways of the world
I didn’t know it felt so right inside
I didn’t know at all. *
John the Baptist could have sung “I did it. I made a bomb of love and blew it up.” The point person in a military formation goes ahead of the main body to scout for resistance. John the Baptist was running point for Jesus. Judah had not seen a prophet in the several centuries before John burst on the scene dressing like Elijah and preaching with the spiritual fervor everyone thought a prophet would exude.
John showed the rare courage of a prophet. He called the religious establishment to task for its waywardness and warned it that God’s rule was on the horizon with judgment and sifting at hand. He spoke truth to power to Herod Antipas, the Jewish ruler of Galilee under the Roman umbrella of power by criticizing his marriage to his sister-in-law.
What would prompt someone to risk their life and the approval of others in such a way? We have seen examples in our own era in people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Their beliefs were so focused and driven that they found the energy to overcome opposition and the courage to risk rejection and death.
People like John make us take inventory of the energy at the center of our own being. What values rank at the top of your and my list? What goals feel most important? For whom or what would you and I be willing to engage in conflict or put ourselves at risk? What generates the energy to speak truth to power and to live prophetically?
Perhaps those places where we feel anger might be a clue. Anger can be seen as a roadmap to our boundaries and our values. If our boundaries are being violated or our values trampled, anger will result. Or, perhaps the most powerful and persistent recurring desires we experience are clues to actions going begging in the soul. Channeling that energy into nonviolent, nonabusive and subversive resistance will put us in the line of people like John, living with prophetic urgency.
We will be able to join the chorus with Dave Matthew, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the biblical prophets. “I did it. I made a bomb of love and blew it up.”
The words of the refrain from “I Did It” can be haunting.
I never did a single thing that did a single thing to
Change the ugly ways of the world
I didn’t know it felt so right inside
I didn’t know at all.
Wouldn’t you like to know?
* Dave Matthews Band, CD Everyday, 2001.
Collect of the Day, The Third Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, p. 218).
Collect for Wednesday of the Third Week in Lent
Give ear to our prayers, O Lord, and direct the way of your servants in safety under your protection, that, amid all the changes of our earthly pilgrimage, we may be guarded by your mighty aid; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women,Holy Men, p. 50).
Today we celebrate the Feast of William W. Mayo (died 6 Mar 1911 CE), Charles Menninger (died 28 Nov 1953 CE), and their sons
Collect of the Feast of William W. Mayo, Charles Menninger, and their sons
Divine Physician, we bless your Name for the work and witness of the Mayos and the Menningers, and the revolutionary developments that they brought to the practice of medicine. As Jesus went about healing the sick as a sign of the reign of God come near, bless and guide all those inspired to the work of healing by your Holy Spirit, that they may follow his example for the sake of your kingdom and the health of your people; through the same Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, 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)
Disturb Us, Lord
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of the things we possess we have lost our thirst for the water of life.
Stir us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery, where in losing sight of land we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hope, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope and love. Amen.
(Attributed to Sir Frances Drake upon departing to sail to the New World, 1577. Cited by The Right Rev. Clay Matthews, Clergy Retreat, Diocese of So. Virginia, 2004.)
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
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 6:13-29
13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ 15But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’
17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ 23And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ 24She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
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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