Radical Surgery
- davidwperk
- Sep 26, 2023
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Proper 20, the week of the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrase for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.Gk Gehenna
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 984)
AM Psalm 78:1-39; PM Psalm 78:40-72
2 Kings 5:19-27; 1 Cor. 5:1-8; Matt. 5:27-37
Today we celebrate the Feast of Lancelot Andrewes. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Jesus calls us to radical surgery in this passage. Plucking out the right eye or severing the right hand if they entrap us into sinful actions--that's radical surgery. Jesus speaks in hyperbole, deliberate exaggeration, a vivd figure of speech. The point--whatever entraps us into sin must be removed from our lives at all costs.
The specific aspects of the Law that Jesus cites in todays reading are adultery, divorce, and swearing oaths. In each instance he finds the nerve center of what that demand asks of us and traces it to a deeper place. It is not enough to avoid sexual contact; rather, the inordinate desire that prompts the contact itself constitutes adultery. It is one thing to appreciate the beauty of another; it is another to move beyond that appreciation to craving a sexual experience with them.
It is not enough to obey Deuteronomy and give a bill of divorce to one’s wife (a woman could not divorce her husband in Jewish culture); rather, the act of divorce itself is an act of unfaithfulness to the marriage covenant and constitutes adultery. (The woman’s adultery occurs in this instance apart from any mention of remarriage.) The root meaning of adultery is unfaithfulness; here, the wife who has no choice in the matter is forced out of the relationship and into violating the marriage covenant.
It is not enough to take oaths that are kept. (Oaths served to guarantee contractual agreements.) Rather, one must not swear an oath at all. To do so infers a concern about a lack of integrity. In the Christian community, a simple "yes I will" or "No I won't" must suffice. (Some have refused to take an oath in court based on this text, but that does not seem to be a valid application.)
Radical surgery. These texts demand that we exercise scrutiny of our lives. What tendencies, what practices, what attitudes consistently take us over the line into sinful actions and desires? Those we must remove from our lives at all costs; the consequences of leaving them untouched to work havoc in our lives will be far more devastating than the pain of letting them go or removing them.
Collect of the Day, Proper 20. The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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 Lancelot Andrewes, bishop and scholar (died 26 Sep 1626 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Lancelot Andrewes
Perfect in us, Almighty God, whatever is lacking of your gifts: of faith, to increase it; of hope, to establish it; of love, to kindle it; that like your servant Lancelot Andrewes we may live in the life of your grace and glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the same Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For the Unity of the Church
Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 255)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 5:27-37
27 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.Gk Gehenna 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.Gk Gehenna 31‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” 32But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer Noonday Prayer, p. 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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