What Are You GoingThrough?

Devotional Reflection, Friday, June 10, 2022

Proper 5, the week of Pentecost Sunday

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

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading;

6:1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 971)

AM Psalm 69:1-23 (24-30) 31-38; PM Psalm 73

Eccles. 11:9-12:14; Gal. 5:25-6:10; Matt. 16:21-28

Today we celebrate the Feast of Ephrem of Nisibis. (See below.)

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Epistle Reading, Galatians 5:25-6:10

25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

6:1My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5For all must carry their own loads. 6Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. 7Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. 10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

David’s Reflections

"The love of our neighbour in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him: 'What are you going through? So wrote Simone Weil in her classic Waiting on God.*

Today’s epistle speaks of love for others, a love that grieves the plight of members of the community who are caught in any sort of sinful behavior. A love that asks, “What are you going through?”, calls for reaching out to restore the broken and erring member while remembering one’s own vulnerability to evil. Paul grounds this compassion in our shared vulnerability; the next episode might involve your being the one wandering away and that very person you helped to restore, the one seeking you out.

It strikes me as profound that Paul has just spoken in the previous verses of love as a fruit of the Spirit’s presence and activity and encouraged us to order our lives in dependence on that Spirit. The very first words of instruction after that have to do with a specific way of practicing that love. That love relates to evil in other believers not by condemning but by seeking the restoration of the erring one to the life of the community.

This requires of us at least three things. First, we must take evil seriously. A believer caught in some form of evil and left to his or her own devices will suffer wounding and ruin. Love will not allow us to sit passively by and watch that happen. Second, we must have an intentional way of going about that work of loving restoration. There actually are programs like Stephen’s Ministry that equip Christians to reach out in loving ministry. Third, we must continue to hold one another in our hearts and in prayer. Members of the community who disappear cannot be forgotten.

What a counterintuitive move—rather than judging to grieve, rather than disparaging to ask “What are yo going through?” We can seek creative, loving ways to express our sense of loss by seeking to reconnect the wanderer to the community of faith.

*Simone Weil, Waiting on God, trans. Emma Craufurd (London: Routledge and Keegan Paul, 1952), pp. 58-59.

Collect of the Day, Proper 5, the week of Pentecost Sunday

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).

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

Collect of the Feast 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 Fridays

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 97)

A Collect for Quiet Confidence

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 832)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

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)