The “In” of the Divine Spirit is an “Out” for the Human Spirit

Devotional Reflection, Monday, August 14, 2023

Proper 14, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrase for reflection from today’s reading:

22And now, as a captive to the Spirit, * I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

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

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 978)

AM Psalm 89:1-18; PM Psalm 89:19-52

2 Samuel 13:23-39; Acts 20:17-38; Mark 9:42-50

Today we celebrate the Feast of Jonathan M. Daniels. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

Paul Tillich writes vividly about being grasped by the Holy Spirit. “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.” *

Today’s epistle presents a vibrant picture of a person grasped by the Holy Spirit. Our English text (New Revised Standard Version) reads in verse 22, “as a captive to the Spirit,* I am on my way to Jerusalem.” The footnote reveals that the underlying Greek reads literally “bound in (by) the Spirit.” One translator renders it “compelled by the Spirit.” Another, “under the constraint of the Spirit.” One of the most common biblical phrases to describe the Spirit’s influence normally is translated “led by the Spirit.” But, even that seemingly milder term infers drivenness and could be rendered “driven by the Spirit.”

Acts describes Paul’s final journey through towns with churches he founded to Jerusalem. The author gives us his only detailed account of a speech by Paul to a Christian audience (In Acts 17, you will find the only detailed example of a speech to a nonJewish and nonbelieving audience, and in Acts 13, the only example to a Jewish synagogue audience). The speech reveals Paul’s anxiety for the church and his sense of finality about the end of their relationship. He will not be back. He was transporting a financial offering to relieve poverty in the church at Jerusalem (see Romans 15, 1 Corinthians 16, 2 Corinthians 8-9 for Paul’s account of this effort). Many of those who had opposed him in synagogues around the Mediterranean would be there, and Paul knew he would be at risk.

(In Acts we read of Paul’s sense of urgency about going to Jerusalem. But, only from his letters do we learn the reason—his desire to deliver this offering personally. One must be aware that Luke’s Paul is a generation or more removed from the Paul of Thessalonians, Galatians, Romans, Philippians, Corinthians and Philemon and contrasts with the Paul of those letters in numerous ways.)

Why was he going in spite of the pleadings of Christians to the contrary along the way? Within his spirit the Holy Spirit was powerfully urging him to go, in Tillich’s words, the Holy Spirit “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.” Paul found himself driven to a course of action that contradicted concerns for his safety and even his survival.

Dare we pray for this kind of influence from the Holy Spirit? To what might we be clinging that would prevent us from daring to pray, “Holy Spirit, drive me out of myself and to the places, actions, and attitudes You desire for me.”? If we can identify those attachments, fears, and places of reluctance, we can pray for the Spirit to break our bondage to them. We can ask God to untie the knots that keep the sailing vessel that is our life bound to the pier, thrashing futilely in the ceaseless winds, and drive us onto the seas of spiritual adventure.

Theologian Clark Pinnock offers us this prayer to Spirit.

"Welcome Holy Spirit, come and set us free! Let each one catch the living flame and be ravished by your love! Let our souls glow with your fire. Help us overcome our forgetfulness of Spirit.”+

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

+Clark H. Pinnock, Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit (Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996), p. 9.

Collect of the Day, Proper 14, the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 232)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Jonathan M. Daniel, seminarian and martyr (died 20 Aug 1965).

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

Collect of the Feast of Jonathan M. Daniels

O God of justice and compassion, who puts down the proud and the mighty from their place, and lifts up the poor and afflicted: We give you thanks for your faithful witness Jonathan Myrick Daniels, who, in the midst of injustice and violence, risked and gave his life for another; and we pray that we, following his example, may make no peace with oppression; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy 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 Spirit

Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; 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, 251)

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 Epistle, Acts 20:17-38

17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him. 18When they came to him, he said to them:

‘You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus. 22And now, as a captive to the Spirit, * I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. 24But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.

25 ‘And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again. 26Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God* that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.* 29I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. 32And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. 35In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ’

36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.

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