Reading the Gospels in Greek

Daily Office Devotional, Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The week of the third Sunday after Lent

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

Phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

4Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.

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

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 955)

AM Psalm 78:1-39; 78:40-72

Gen. 45:1-15; 1 Cor. 7:32-40; Mark 6:1-13

David’s Reflections

One of my favorite poems by Czeslaw Milosz begins with these lines.

You asked me what is the good of reading the Gospels in Greek.

I answer that it is proper that we move our finger

Along letters more enduring than those carved in stone,

And that, slowly pronouncing each syllable,

We discover the true dignity of speech.

Compelled to be attentive we shall think of that epoch

No more distant than yesterday, though the heads of caesars

On coins are different today. Yet still it is the same eon,

Fear and desire are the same, oil and wine

And bread mean the same.  So does the fickleness of the throng

Avid for miracles as in the past. *

Milosz calls for a slow, deliberate reading that sinks beneath the familiarity of lines often perused so that we penetrate to our shared humanity with those immortalized in its paragraphs.  Such an unhurried deep reading can bridge the centuries and take us into the experience of those about whom we read as well as bringing their experiences into our present stories.

Jesus’ hometown folk heard his astounding words in the synagogue, and they were amazed at the reports of his healings.  Yet, they were offended at him.  How could he presume to speak and act as he was doing?  They had known him since before he was somebody.  And, they failed to do that slow reading of Hebrew Scripture and of his story that Mliosz muses about.

Their skeptical reaction limited Jesus’ ability to do acts of healing. Jesus’ teaching and healing ministries always sought to open dialogue and inquiry.  His healing ministry sought to bring people to God, to awaken faith, and to raise questions.  It is not that Jesus could not heal apart from faith; rather, to have carried on an extensive healing ministry in the face of their unbelief would not have generated that dialogue but would have worsened the situation and stiffened their resistance.

God’s presence and activity in Jesus were invisible to the skeptical eye.  The aeons have not altered that dilemma.  Faith pierces the veil and sees beneath the surface.  Faith does a slow reading of life’s events.  We who read this story now share the struggle of those “reading” the event firsthand.  The cool mists of God’s loving activity lie disguised from the scorching gaze of unbelief.

The closing lines of Milosz’s poem underline our shared dilemma with Jesus’ contemporaries:

And thus on every page a persistent reader

Sees twenty centuries as twenty days

In a world which one day will come to its end.

Am I a persistent reader?  Do I move my finger slowly over the lines, seeking my shared bond with those whose witness lurks in its pages, looking for God’s glory to ooze up between the words?  Do I move my gaze slowly over my daily life map, hoping to catch glimpses of God’s love dancing among the people and happenings of my day?  I wonder how much I am missing?

* Czeslaw Milosz, New and Collected Poems:  1931-2001, (New York:  HarperCollins, 2001), p. 262.

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 Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom you have given a fervent desire to pray, may, by your mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Hoy Women, HolyMen, p. 61.)

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)

All the Good I Can

Dear God, guide me to

Do all the good I can

By all means I can

In all ways I can

In all places I can

To all people I can

As long as I can.

Bill Pittman and  Lisa D., The 12 Step Prayer Book Volume 2:  More Twelve Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings Prayers  (Center City, MN:  Hazelden, 2007.)

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

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, Mark 6:1-13

6:1He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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