The Daring Faith Of an Outsider
- davidwperk
- Oct 8, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Proper 22, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, `Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, "Go," and he goes, and to another, "Come," and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this," and the slave does it.' 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, `I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.' 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 987)
Psalm 125, 126, [127]
Micah 1:1-9; Acts 23:12-24; Luke 7:1-17
Today we celebrate the Feast of William Bliss and Richard Ely. (See below.)
David's Reflections
At the conclusion of John's Gospel, Jesus said to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Thomas had been with Jesus during his ministry and seen the risen Christ in the process of coming to resurrection faith. John’s Jesus looked beyond Thomas' struggle with faith to the future, to the experience of people like you and me, people who have not seen literally yet are challenged to exercise faith.
In today's Gospel, Jesus heals the beloved slave of a nonJewish soldier. The healing takes place even though Jesus does not appear on the scene, touch the man, and drive away the disease. The faith of those who called on Jesus made the difference. And, those who were asking were not even of Jesus’ own nationality, that is Jewish. Like Jesus says to Thomas, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.”
What a window into our experience! People have beloved family, friends, coworkers in the grip of illness, addiction, or emotional demons. They may not be insiders to the church, yet their very anxiety and desire forms a prayer to God. Jesus, though not literally present, heals today with the same authority as during his ministry.
As Christians, if we listen more deeply to those "outside" the institutional church, we will hear their unvoiced prayers for the healing and deliverance of themselves and others. We can give voice to those prayers ourselves. We can keep seeing and hearing their pain with persistence until compassion drives us to act--to pray and to express our concern.
Could it be that some on the "outside" might have more profound trust than some of us on the "inside" who have lost sight of Jesus' healing love and its power. This nonJewish soldier knew that he did not have to ask Jesus into his home for his slave to recover. He thought outside the box and did so with daring faith.
Were our faith more daring, how would it express itself? We have not "seen" literally as did Jesus' first followers, but yet we have seen. Do we believe? And, can we be awake, as was Jesus, for faith in surprising places.
Collect of the Day: Proper 22, the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 234)
Today we celebrate the Feast of William Bliss. priest (died 8 Oct 1926 CE) and Richard Ely., economist (died 8 Oct 1943 CE).
Collect of the Feast of William Bliss and Richard Ely
Blessed God, whose Son Jesus came as servant to all: We thank you for William Bliss and Richard Ely, whose dedication to the commonweal through economic justice led them to be bold reformers of the world and the Church; and we pray that we, with them, may find our true happiness through self-sacrifice in service of your reign, where all the hungry are fed and the downtrodden are raised up through Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
Most holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. (BCP, 123)
Of the Departed
Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; 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. (BCP, 253)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
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 7:1-17
7 :1After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, `He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.' 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, `Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, "Go," and he goes, and to another, "Come," and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this," and the slave does it.' 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, `I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.' 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. 11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. 13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, `Do not weep.' 14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, `Young man, I say to you, rise!' 15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, `A great prophet has risen among us!' and `God has looked favorably on his people!' 17This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
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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