The Focus of Ecstatic Spirituality

Devotional Reflection, Monday, June 5, 2023

The week of Trinity Sunday (Proper 4)

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading:

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

(You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary readings: (BCP, 968)

AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44

Deuteronomy 11:13-19; 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2; Luke 17:1-10

Today we celebrate the Feast of Boniface. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

Translation from one language to another always involves some measure of interpretation. No two languages have exact word-for-word parallels for every word or phrase, and all languages include idioms and words with differing ranges of meaning. Idioms in one language make little sense if rendered literally into another. Some form of paraphrase normally must take place for clarity. In today’s passage, the translators made one of those interpretive decisions in rendering verse 13 into English from Greek. They have rendered the phrase “If we are beside ourselves it is for God” rather literally, even though Paul may be speaking ironically.

The verb underlying “beside ourselves” can be used with reference to a permanent state of insanity or mental disorder. Jesus’ family concluded that was true of him during his ministry and this same verb occurs in that passage (Mark 3:21). It also can be used of transient states of wonder, amazement, or ecstasy. Paul probably intends it in that latter sense and may be using it ironically with reference to his own moments of ecstatic speech (1 Corinthians 14:18) and visionary experiences (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).

We could well translate that phrase “If we are in an ecstatic state it is for God.” Commentators are almost unanimous that such was Paul’s intent. Paul has made the fundamental point here that all aspects of spirituality, ecstatic experience and rational relationships in community are for someone other than ourselves. If God grants us a trance, vision, or ecstatic speech, such gifts are for us and God in relationship. We are relating to God in those moments and those gifts are intended to deepen our relationship with God. They are not the concern of others.

Paul’s opponents at Corinth valued the ecstatic gifts above all others and spoke in derogatory terms of those who seemed to lack such gifts. They sought those gifts and believed people lacking them were deficient spiritually. Paul’s rejoinders consistently echo a different theme. The “right mind” gifts like prophecy and teaching benefited the Christian community, whereas the ecstatic gifts were a matter of one’s relationship with God and benefit only the recipient.

The striking words are in the next verse, “The love of Christ urges us on.” Nothing we do or experience in the spiritual life is for “us.” Ecstasy is for God and to deepen our relationship with God, an expression of our love for God and God’s for us. Rational relationships in community are for others. Christ’s love drives us out of ourselves and frees us from self-referenced thinking about the spiritual life.

The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures abound with a variety of spiritualities. At the risk of oversimplifying, we could revert to Jeremiah 18:18, where Jeremiah alludes to the prophets, the priest, and the wisdom teachers—each vocation expressing a unique spirituality. And, we could trace those spritualities through the Christian Scriptures as well. Which is to say that no one spirituality should be privileged over the others. Any faith community exhibits greater wholeness if a variety of spiritual experiences find expression and are valued therein. (I’ve posted notes from a lecture about this on my website. (https://www.davidwperkins.com/post/biblical-foundations-of-the-concept-of-spirituality)

The Holy Spirit does not work for the titillation of our emotions or the fulfillment of our desires for a certain spiritual experience. Nor does the Spirit seek to separate us from other believers by giving us graces that can lead us to conceit and lead us to deprecate others. In all things Christ’s love urges us out of ourselves and into connection and ministry with others.

Paul Tillich has so well said it: “

If the divine Spirit breaks into the human spirit, this does not mean that it

rests there, but that it drives the human spirit out of itself. The "in" of the divine Spirit is

an "out" for the human spirit. The spirit, a dimension of finite life, is driven into a

successful self-transcendence; it is grasped by something ultimate and unconditional. It

is still the human spirit; it remains what it is, but at the same time, it goes out of itself

under the impact of the divine Spirit. "Ecstasy" is the classical term for this state of

being grasped by the Spiritual Presence. It describes the human situation under the

Spiritual Presence exactly.” *

*Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology, 3 vols. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951, 1957, 1963), 3:111-112.

Collect of the Day, Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 228)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Boniface, bishop, missionary, martyr (died 5 June 754 CE). http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Boniface.htm

Collect of the Feast of Boniface

Pour out your Holy Spirit, O God, upon your church in every land, that like your servant Boniface we might proclaim the Gospel to all nations, that your kingdom might be enlarged and that your holy Name might be glorified in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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 Holy Angels

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 251)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of

our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

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)

Daily Office Epistle, 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2

11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6:1As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’ See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

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