Risky, Resilient Devotion
- davidwperk
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
Devotional reflection, Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Proper 8, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrase for reflection from today’s reading:
67They said, ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’ He replied, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe; 68and if I question you, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’
(You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)
Daily Offie Lectionary readings (BCP, 972)
AM, Psalms (120) 121, 122, 123; PM, Psalms 124, 125, 126, (127)
1 Samuel 11:1-15; Acts 8:1-13; Luke 22:63-71
Today we celebrate the Feast of Pauli Murray. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Jesus, in this episode, received rude and shameful treatment from his fellow Jews. Their goading him to prophesy who struck him suggests that many had come to regard Jesus as a prophet. Their question about whether he was the Messiah, God's anointed end-time deliverer, touched the nerve of a core issue in Jesus' ministry.
He had scrupulously avoided the term Messiah, probably because it was a word loaded with expectations of a political/military nature. Many expected a new Moses, who would deliver them from Roman bondage as had Moses from Egyptian bondage. Others looked for a new David who would deliver from Rome as had David from the Philistines. Still others looked for a priestly figure.
In the accounts of his trial, we find the only words of Jesus that could be interpreted as a direct claim to the title Messiah. And, here, as he did consistently, he interposed another term, Son of Man, a more vague and less loaded appellation. In this response to their question, he spoke to the expectation that he would be exalted to God's presence after his death.
His accusers were looking for a charge to bring against him that would mandate the death penalty. Here they accused him of being a blasphemer, one who made claims for himself that were false or that were insulting to God. However, such a charge would carry no weight with the Romans, so they accused him before Pilate of being a political insurrectionist, of disloyalty to Rome. That was a version of the messianic claim that would have political overtones for Pilate, since most messiah figures were insurrectionists. (See Gamaliel’s speech in Acts 5:33-42.)
I cannot imagine Jesus' emotional state. Crucifixion hovered on his horizon. He had been abandoned by his closest friends at the moment of his greatest crisis. We can guess that fear, anxiety and anger mingled with courage and resolve. In my heart, I want to be with him in his trial, to share his courage and resolve. I do not want him to experience abandonment by me. He lives within me. If I lose heart in moments when it is challenging and frightening to be faithful, I break faith with him. I abandon him. His three close friends slept through his agony in the Garden. I would hope to be awake and present to Jesus.
Jesus did not relent in his resolve, even in the face of death. Christian martyrs from Stephen in Acts 7 to those suffering and dying today for their faith in various loci of persecution around the globe have followed in Jesus’ way with that same resolve. Can I do less with far less at stake? May our fluctuating hearts find grace and resilience to take any risks devotion requires. We could stand a dose of militancy to counteract our timidity.
Calm steadfast love
still deep
within your peace
and keep
our fluctuating hearts:
our inability
anchor
in your stability
your changeless energy
of burning love. *
*Anonymous, cited by Esther de Waal, Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict. Foreword by Kathleen Norris. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2001), p. 66.
Collect of the Day, Proper 8, the third Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 230)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Pauli Murray, priest, civil rights activist (died 1 July 1985 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Pauli Murray
Liberating God, we thank you for the steadfast courage of your servant Pauli Murray, who fought long and well: Unshackle us from chains of prejudice and fear, that we may show forth the reconciling love and true freedom which you revealed in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 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)
For the Departed
Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servant N.; and we pray that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, you will receive him more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, he may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 253)
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
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, Luke 22:63-71
63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ 65They kept heaping many other insults on him. 66When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67They said, ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’ He replied, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe; 68and if I question you, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’ 70All of them asked, ‘Are you, then, the Son of God?’ He said to them, ‘You say that I am.’ 71Then they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!’
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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