The Danger of Success

Daily Office Devotional, Wednesday, May 19, 2021

The week of the seventh Sunday of Easter

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

Today we celebrate the Feast of Dunstan of Canterbury. (See below.)

Daily Office Lectionary readings

AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19) 20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144

Ezekiel 11:14-25; Hebrews 7:1-17; Luke 10:17-24

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, Luke 10:17-24

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ 18He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’ 21At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ 23Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’

David's Reflections

The missionaries sent out by Jesus in yesterday’s Gospel returned with faces glowing and triumphant reports of the results of their journeys. They had experienced the power of God's Spirit in preaching and healing and were amazed that they were able to cast out demons as Jesus had been doing. Yet, they heard a word of caution from Jesus that must have puzzled them and that feels strange to us now. "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Jesus had seen Satan fall like lightening from heaven (10:18), a vision of the full and final defeat of the powers of evil in the end, perhaps as a result of his impending death. Jesus could see that final triumph anticipated in the triumphs of these missionary followers. Yet, the disciples were being cautioned about focusing on these experiences, which bore all the outward signs of success. Such experiences always have an ambiguous complexity. To share in triumph over evil and to focus on those experiences can shift our focus from the gentle saving love of God that has chosen us to us as agents of that love. We can find ourselves struggling with temptations to power, as did Jesus in the desert when Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for Jesus’ loyalty and commitment to him.

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have delivered a deathblow to the powers of darkness. We can be assured of their ultimate and final downfall beyond any doubt. We are told not to rejoice in our experiences that confirm that reality, but in God's decision to effect our salvation. Our ultimate arrival into the presence of God is as certain as Satan's downfall. That anchor of hope is unambiguous, certain, unshakable. When our experience turns negative and life becomes dark and the powers of darkness seem in control of our destiny, we still can rejoice, even without outward signs of success, because we know the final outcome of the conflict with evil.

A caveat--you don't have to conceive of personal demons and a personal Satan. The unholy triumvirate of greed, lust, and power exerts its pervasive captivating power over all of us and among all political and economic structures. In fact, perceiving of the powers as personal demons and a personal Satan can actually weaken the impact of this passage on us and blind us to the effects of greed, lust, and power. Who was it who said that the greatest victory of the demons might have been to convince us of their nonexistence? I also find it curious how we can pontificate about the nature of the unseen world, even though we can't see it.

One of my favorite commentators, Eduard Schweizer, put it very succinctly.

"Jesus wants open eyes, which can see the reality of God at work behind outward events, without simply identifying this reality with outward success. This implies an amazing openness to creation, the dark and oppressive aspects of which are no longer demonic. There is still incomprehensible evil, but the disciple who has shared Jesus' experience of temptation and persecution can bear witness that even here can be seen the fall of Satan, enraged because his time is short (Rev. 12:12-13, 17). Luke--and the modern reader--can echo his words." [The Good News According to Luke, trans. David E. Green (Atlanta: John Knox, 1984), pp. 181-182.]

Collect of the day, Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (BCP, 226)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Dunstan of Canterbury, monk and archbishop (died 19 May 988 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Dunstan.htm

Collect of the Feast of Dunstan

Direct your Church, O Lord, into the beauty of holiness, that, following the good example of your servant Dunstan, we may honor your Son Jesus Christ with our lips and in our lives; to the glory of his Name, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

A Collect for the Weekdays of Easter

God of infinite mercy, you renew the faith of your people by the yearly celebration of these fifty days: Stir up in us the gifts of your grace, that we may know more deeply that Baptism has cleansed us, the Spirit has quickened us, and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and 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 stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 259)

In the Order of Worship for 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

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)