Retrospective Epiphanies

Devotional Reflection, Friday, February 25, 2022

The week of the seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 949)

AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12)

Prov. 8:1-21; Philemon 1-25; John 12:9-19

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Gospel Reading, John 12:9-19

9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

‘Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—

the King of Israel!’

14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:

15‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.

Look, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!’

16His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. 17So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.* 18It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’

David’s Reflections

" . . . at any given moment a great many things can be happening at once whose connections become clear only much later." * So writes Carol Lee Flinders. Jesus’ followers lacked a grasp of what was happening that day. According to John, it was only after Jesus’ death that the connections of which Flinders speaks began to click and they understood the significance of Jesus’ entry into the city.

How sad to be in the middle of a momentous happening and not understand its meaning. Yet, how ordinary and every day. At a high school reunion, I stood looking down into the auditorium at my high school. My mind went back to the first time I sat in the back as a freshman for assembly. Then, I recalled moving forward a section each year as the seniors vacated the front. And, memories came back of each choral concert in which I sang and of the senior plays in which I performed. Last of all, that night in cap and gown flashed before me.

That room looks so much smaller now. And, out front, gracing the approach to the flagpole lie memorial bricks embedded with my name and those of many of my classmates in honor of those who have died. None of us understood the significance of those moments. Only now, years later, with connections made do those events take on anything near their true significance.

Eric Routley once quipped: "Wisdom may stumble when it tries to handle the future, but it can deal with the past with a sure touch." + Let us pray for that wisdom and for that inclination to reflect on our own past. The power of reflection will reveal connections and meaning that eluded us at the time.

Jesus’ intent always is to transform and to deliver and to save. Yet, like the disciples walking with him in to Jerusalem, we often will not understand how what is happening will in any way transform, deliver, or save. Our challenge is to keep on walking with him, to complete the journey, to keep observing, to keep reflecting, to keep trusting. Then, later on, we will look back and make the connections and we will see and understand.

Some years ago, I began keeping a spiritual journal, a collection of reflections, quotes, and remembrances. Every rereading of that journal stimulates that unique reflection about my spiritual journey. So many epiphanies come only in retrospect. I do hope the retrospective epiphanies enlighten the approach of the future and sharpen my spiritual keenness.

"The Folded Page"

Up in the quaint old attic, as the raindrops pattered down,

And I sat conning over a schoolbook--dusty, worn, and brown--

I came to a leaf that was folded, and marked in a childish hand,

"The teacher says to leave this now, 'tis hard to understand."

What was so hard? I wondered; I opened it with a smile,

Only to read at the problem's end: "We learned why after a while."

My tears fell thick as the raindrops then, up in the attic old,

As I thought of leaves that are "folded down" till the days of our lives are told.

One was folded there with a tender hand to the sound of summer rain;

When the dust of years lies thick above, will we open this page again?

And can we write with steady hand, and on our lips a smile,

"At last our Teacher told us why, and we learned it--after a while?"

(Anonymous)

* Carol Lee Flinders, At the Root of this Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst (New York: HarperCollins, 1999), p. 8.

+ Eric Routley, Exploring the Psalms. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1975), p. 151.

Collect of the Day, Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)

A Collect for Fridays

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 97)

A Collect for Quiet Confidence

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 832)

In the Evening

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. (BCP, 833)

A Collect for Mission

O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 257)