Stretched by Spirit
- davidwperk
- Feb 1, 2024
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Thursday, February 1 2024
The week of the fourth Sunday after Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key verses for reflection from today’s reading:
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 947)
AM [Psalm 70], 71; PM Psalm 74
Gen. 23:1-20; Heb. 11:32-12:2; John 6:60-71
Today we celebrate the Feast of Bridget of Kildare. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
W. H. Auden’s poem, “The Quest,” contains these lines.
And when Truth met him and put out her hand,
He clung in panic to his tall belief
And shrank away like an ill-treated child. *
In our Gospel, Truth met them and put out her hand. Their response? “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” In fairness to them, Jesus gave them quite a mouthful. The chewing proved too much. His statements about being bread from heaven and about eating his flesh and drinking his blood were what we might call “hard sayings,” a real mouthful.
An old cliché reminds us that God’s word comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. We can experience the Spirit’s voice through Scripture and within our spirits as seriously stretching. When that voice manages to cut through our defenses and pierce the veil of familiarity, it can be quite “afflicting.”
Yet, even though Holy Writ and its expression in song, sermon, and literature can be disquieting, it also attracts with a mysterious pull. We can find ourselves alternately avoiding serious and deep reading and being drawn to its pages. In this text, some are going away and some are persisting in the journey. Both those dynamics can work within the reader’s/hearer’s life--at times like those who find this too tough and leave, but at times like Peter. “To whom can we go?”
It probably doesn’t help to be aware that those places where we feel stretched are the very spaces into which God’s love and transforming grace are attempting to reach. Those places of “dis-ease” are the spots on the limb of life where buds are attempting to sprout.
Perhaps after we withdraw from truth’s reaching fingers, we can get a grip on our panic and return to that friendly searching hand. Perhaps the mysterious love that pushes gently against our resistance will hear the cry, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9).
These lines from Anglican preacher and poet, G. A. Studdert-Kennedy come to mind.
I followed what I could not understand
Because I knew,
That only that which passeth understanding
Can be true.+
* W. H. Auden, "The Quest," in W. H. Auden: Collected Poems, ed. Edward
Mendelson (New York: Random House, 1976), p. 228.
+G. A. Studdert-Kennedy, The Warrior, The Woman, and the Christ (New York: R. R. Smith, 1930), p. 147.
Collect of the Day, Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 215)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Brigid of Kildare, abbess (died ca 525 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Brigid
O, God, whose servant Brigid, kindled with the flame of your love, became a shining light in your church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Protection
O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 124)
A Collect for Social Justice
Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 260)
A Collect for Early Evening
Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 280)
Daily Office Gospel, John 6:60-71
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ 68Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ 70Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ 71He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
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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