Unmet Challenges of “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”

Devotional Reflection, Monday, September 11, 2023

Proper 18, the week of the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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

Key phrase for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

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

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 982)

AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44

1 Kings 13:1-10; Phil. 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47

Today we celebrate the Feast of Harry T. Burliegh. (See below.)

David's Reflections

Of Jesus’ relationship to women, Carol Flinders writes, “The Gospels themselves . . . have made it indisputably clear that Jesus himself loved women and took them seriously as spiritual aspirants, and if there had been any lingering doubt as to their suitedness for full membership in the church, the accounts of the early Christian martyrs would certainly have dispelled it." *

Today’s Gospel present graphic evidence of Jesus’ unique relationship with women. His was a patriarchal society; women occupied a quite secondary social level. No rabbis had women as disciples. But, Jesus had women who traveled with him and the Twelve and provided for them financially. (Luke 8:1-3 provides another witness to this.) And, when Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for this his final Passover celebration, a number of women journeyed with him.

Now, at the moment of his deepest agony, the Twelve (except for The Beloved Disciple, according to John 19) were conspicuous by their absence. The women proved faithful to Jesus by risking keeping company with him in his death. They become models for our discipleship, sharing Jesus’ final journey to death. In a real sense, they took up their crosses and followed Jesus, risking rejection themselves. They steeled themselves against the agony of watching someone they loved suffer so profoundly and shared the moment with h

The church’s struggles with the role of women have revealed how deeply patriarchy can become embedded in a community’s culture. For example, ordination, as we practice it, arises out of a post Biblical tradition; the formal distinction between ordained and non-ordained does not exist in the biblical documents.

That does not make it wrong to ordain; rather, it makes ordination a debate primarily about tradition. Scripture sheds light on that debate in passages like this one, like Old Testament and New Testament references to women prophets, and primarily in Jesus’ attitude and practice. And, even though The Episcopal Church began ordaining women a half-century ago, resistance to having women as clergy persists in some parishes; and, at the national level we cannot say that the taint of gender inequality has been fully overcome.

The most fundamental word of Jesus that relates to the place of women in the church is “love your neighbor as yourself.” With that core text and the examples I’ve alluded to from Scripture, the church is called to treat all within its boundaries with neighbor love. As Paul put it in Galatians 3, in the Christian community the social distinctions of race, economic status, and gender have no relevance.

Jesus not only taught that we love our neighbor as ourselves, he also practiced it. Iin today's Gospel, we see the impact of his neighbor love on the women who followed him. That challenge of neighbor love remains a challenge for us.

* Carol Lee Flinders, At the Root of This Longing: Reconciling a Spiritual Hunger and a Feminist Thirst (New York: HarperCollins, 1998), p. 130.

Collect of the Day, Proper 18, the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (BCP, 233)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Harry T. Burliegh, composer (died 12 Sep 1949)

Collect of the Feast of Harry T. Burleigh

God, our strong deliverer: We bless your Name for the grace given to Harry Thacker Burleigh, who lifted up in song the struggles of your people. Let that Spirit of love which spurred him draw us and your whole Church to raise our distinct voices into one great harmony of praise; through the same Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, 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)

For Those Who Mourn

Merciful God, whose Son Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus: look with compassion on all who are bound by sorrow and pain through the death of N. (or a loved one). Comfort them, grant them the conviction that all things work together for good to those who love you, and help them to find sure trust and confidence in your resurrection power; through Jesus Christ our deliverer. Amen. (Enriching Our Worship: 2, pp. 65-66)

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 Gospel, Mark 15:40-47

40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 45When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46Then Joseph* bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body,* wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body* was laid.

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