The Embodiment of God’s Life and Love

Devotional Reflection, Monday, August 5, 2024

Proper 13, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.. . . 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. . . . 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. . . .14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 979)

AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, 179

Judges 6:25-40; Acts 2:37-47; John 1:1-18

Today is the Eve of the Feast of the Transfiguration.

David’s Reflections

During the years I lived in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky, driving at night always awed me.  On occasion I would find myself on a plateau or ridge winding down toward a town that lay below winking and glowing in the darkness.  The town already would have given itself away by shimmering on the black horizon before I had gotten close enough to see it directly.

According to verse 9 of today’s reading, Jesus is the true light who enlightens everyone.  A city glowing at night certainly shines her light on everyone. Everyone?  That’s what John says.  Just how do you conceive this enlightenment?  What does John mean?  This Gospel reading feels full of energy to me.

“All things came into being through him.”

“In him was life.”

“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world”

“who were born . . . of God.”

“The Word became flesh and lived among us”

“We beheld his glory.”

“From his fullness we have all received.”

“God’s only Son . . . has made him known.”

This energy bespeaks a God restless with our ignorance, blindness, and alienation, restless like a father or mother longing for a runaway child. (See Luke 15.).  This God’s life energy overflows toward us with initiatives both gentle and persistent.  We are the objects of God’s love, a love that desires to share a relationship with us, a relationship like God shares with Jesus the beloved Son.

Would that you and I valued relationships with others and God more fully.  Would that we could share God’s restless yearning to restore all people to God.  Would that our churches were more translucent, more permeable, more energized in mission.  Would that my own life drank more deeply at the font of God’s longing for all people.  Would that the light of Jesus’ saving presence would shine through us with more loving brilliance, shine so that none could miss its beaming display.

Collect of the Day, Proper 13. The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 232)

A Collect for the Renewal of Life

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 99)

Of the Incarnation

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 252)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)

Daily Office Gospel, John 1:1-18

1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

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