The Painfulness of Loving
- davidwperk
- Jun 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, June 10, 2024
Proper 5, the week of the third Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
19 My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 971)
AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65
Eccles. 7:1-14; Gal. 4:12-20; Matt. 15:21-28
Today we celebrate the Feast of Ephrem of Nisibis. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
My major professor in seminary, the late Malcolm Tolbert embodied, taught, and preached grace and love. He wrote in one of his books, "It is easy to talk about love--or, for that matter, to write about it. But it is awfully difficult to do love. It is in the doing and not the talking that we show whether the richness of God's love has banished the poverty of our own selfish spirits."* Paul was experiencing the painful reality of this kind of love with his Galatian converts.
The metaphor in verse 19 of today’s epistle arrests my attention. Paul compared his pain about the Galatians to the labor pains of a mother rebirthing a child. It was like trying to give birth all over again to a babe that had been wounded and needed to be recreated. Can we conclude that loving others and seeking their conversion and transformation can be a risky and painful venture? As Tolbert observed, “. . . it is awfully difficult to do love.”
Behind these paragraphs lie narratives of Paul’s life of which we have no direct knowledge, only the autobiographical hints in this passage. He was traveling in central Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and became ill, necessitating a layover. During his recovery he preached and taught and converts formed into a congregation. Subsequently, other churches had sprung up in the area. (Note, this letter is addressed to churches in the plural). If Paul followed his normal pattern, he would have resided there a year or two to confirm the faith of the new churches and establish leaders before moving on to other areas of missionary labor
After his departure, Jewish Christian missionaries of a different orientation had come into the region, teaching that Paul had failed to inform them fully about Christianity. They must become Jewish to experience the saving graces of a Jewish messiah; they must undergo a second initiation beyond baptism—circumcision—and then keep the ritual law regarding food eaten. Some of them had accepted circumcision and begun keeping Jewish ritual law as a result. Evidently, these missionaries had attacked Paul and called his integrity into question, which had undermined Paul’s unique status as the planter of the churches, their “father/mother” in the faith.
Paul’s letter, a substitute for his bodily presence, took them to task and sought to re-establish Christ as the center of the Christian faith. Were they to begin keeping Jewish ritual law as a way of somehow completing their faith, Jesus would no longer be at the center of their experience. Paul also revealed his personal agony over their abandonment of his teaching and the disruption of their relationship with him. (See Gal. 3:1-6.)
Paul did not reject ritual law for himself as a practicing Jew. But, he refused to impose such requirements on nonJewish converts. And, he could dispense with ritual dietary law in the company of nonJews in and outside the faith community. (See 1 Corinthians 9 and Romans 14.) For Paul Christ and the mission of the Gospel of Christ were central.
In living into the mission of the Gospel, we seek the conversion of people or the rekindling of dormant faith and the transformation of people. As the catechism in The Book of Common Prayer puts it, “The mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” (BCP, 855). We will experience painful and disappointing moments as people we treasure and pray for either do not respond or respond and then wander way from God and from the community in spite of our best efforts and prayers. We will often find our metel tested, the strength of our intent and desire tried to the max. In Tolbert’s words, “It is in the doing and not the talking that we show whether the richness of God's love has banished the poverty of our own selfish spirits."*
*Walking with the Lord (Nashville: Broadman, 1970), p. 78.
Collect of the Day, Proper 5, the third Sunday after Pentecost
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 229)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Ephrem of Nisibis, deacon and hymn writer (died 9 June 373 CE.
Collect of Ephrem of Nisibis
Pour out upon us, O Lord, that same Spirit by which your deacon Ephrem declared the mysteries of faith in sacred song; that, with gladden hearts, we too might proclaim the riches of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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)
Prayer in a Time of War
O Almighty God, the Father of all humanity, turn, we pray, the hearts of all peoples and their rulers, that by the power of your Holy Spirit peace may be established among the nations on the foundation of justice, righteousness and truth; through him who was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
William Temple (1881-1944), Archbishop of Canterbury
A Prayer for Light
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. (BCP, 111)
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, Galatians 4:12-20
12 Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; 14though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15What has become of the good will you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them. 18It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
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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