The Mortal Heart Thinking the Thought Divine
- davidwperk
- Nov 16, 2023
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Thursday, November 16, 2023
Proper 27, the week of the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading
16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He answered them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” 3And in the morning, “It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’ Then he left them and went away.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 992)
AM Psalm [83] or 34; PM Psalm 85, 86
1 Macc. 1:1-28; Rev. 19:1-10; Matt. 16:1-12
Today we celebrate the Feast of Margaret of Scotland. (See below.)
David's Reflections
How is the mortal heart lead into the thinking of the thought divine, to borrow a line from George Santayana’s sonnet?*
The religious leaders requested a sign of Jesus, a visible, tangible demonstration or proof. Judas Iscariot gave the soldiers a sign when they went to arrest Jesus. He stepped forward and greeted Jesus with a kiss of peace. Here, Jesus tells the religious leaders that their request for a sign will not be granted. They were asking for some visible, tangible evidence (Judas' kiss, if you will) to prove Jesus' identity. Perhaps they wanted him to make lightening and thunder happen.
When I was a boy in middle school, the call to ministry was lurking around the edges of my consciousness. I put a towel in the yard and asked God not to let it get wet with dew during the night. I put a bucket in the yard and asked God to fill it with water. I reasoned that if God would give me one of those signs, I would know that I was to be a minister. Of course, God's wisdom would not allow the beginnings of such dependence on such external proofs. That would have been disastrous for me spiritually. That was not the way for my mortal heart to think the thought divine.
The awareness of God's call came over a period of several years, got tested in conversations within the Christian community, and got confirmed by repeated whisperings of God's Spirit within. At age sixteen, I preached the first of many sermons (and probably one of the very worst). The Trinity Baptist Church and the Reverend Steve Caskey must have winced through the entire twelve-minute ordeal. For my mortal heart to be lead to think the thought divine required a village.
The Rev. H.T. Sullivan, 22 years pastor at First Baptist Church, Oakdale, Louisiana had an indelible influence on my journey, as did numerous laypeople in those two churches. My paternal grandparents, Delta and Elizabeth Perkins, marked my life with their faith and practice. St. Thomas on the Bayou Episcopal in Monroe, Louisiana and the bishop, The Right Rev. Robert Hargrove and the Rev. Walter Baer undergirded and guided my journey as an Episcopalian. The full list of those who made my journey possible lives in my journals.
To exercise faith, to trust God, without visible or tangible reinforcement--that is the way of faith. God will encourage us, send wise people to us, create synchronous circumstances, call biblical passages to mind, and exercise infinite patience with our stutterings of behavior and our hesitancy. Yet, in the end, the risk of trust and commitment will be ours to take. Signs will not be given us, at least not the dry towels and full buckets for which we may yearn.
In my journey, three ingredients have coalesced in the discernment process to guide me toward God’s intent. First, the witness of Scripture, sometimes individual verses or phrases, Jesus’ life and teaching, the core values in Scripture, and the examples of biblical characters. Second, the counsel of trusted spiritual friends. Third, the consistent inner voice of the Spirit. I hope you’ve found at least a sliver of light in these ramblings today. May your mortal heart find its way closer to thinking the thought divine.
Oh! world, thou choosest not the better part,
It is not wisdom to be only wise,
And on the inward vision close the eyes.
But it is wisdom to believe the heart.
Columbus found a world and had no chart,
Save one that faith deciphered in the skies;
To trust the soul's invincible surmise
Was all his science and his only art.
Our knowledge is a torch of smoky pine
That lights the pathway but one step ahead
Across the void of mystery and dread.
Bid, then, the tender light of faith to shine
By which alone the mortal heart is led
Into the thinking of the thought divine. *
*George Santayana, Sonnet III, The Complete Poems of George Santayana: A Critical Edition. Edited and with an Introduction by William G. Holzberger. Lewisburg: Bucknell UP, 1979), p. 92.
Collect of the Day, Proper 27, the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again
with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCP, 236.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Margaret of Scotland (died 16 Nov 1093 CE)
Collect of the Feast of Margaret of Scotland
O God, who called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave her zeal for your church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we also may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Protection
O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 124)
For Knowledge of God’s Creation
Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know
you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 827)
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
Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 280)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 16:1-12
16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He answered them, ‘When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” 3And in the morning, “It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.’ Then he left them and went away.
5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ 7They said to one another, ‘It is because we have brought no bread.’ 8And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, ‘You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!’ 12Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
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
Comments