When Truth Meets Us
- davidwperk
- Aug 23, 2022
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Proper 16, the week of the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, ThD.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 981)
AM Psalm 5, 6; PM Psalm 10, 11
Job 6:1-4,8-15,21; Acts 9:32-43; John 6:60-71
Today we celebrate the Feast of Martin de Porres, Rosa de Lima, and Torobio of Mogrovejo. (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 Gospel, John 6:60-71
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ 68Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ 70Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.’ 71He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
David’s Reflections
And when Truth met him and put out her hand,
He clung in panic to his tall belief
And shrank away like an ill-treated child. *
In our Gospel reading, in Auden’s words, Truth met them and put out her hand. Their response? “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” In fairness to them, Jesus gave them quite a bit on which to chew. John quoted statements of Jesus about being bread from heaven and about eating his flesh and drinking his blood were what his hearers called “hard words,” a real mouthful as it were. We still find ourselves gnawing on some of those hard words; books have been published about them, journal articles written about them, and sermons uttered about them.
An old cliché reminds us that “God’s Word comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.” We can indeed experience God’s Word as seriously stretching. When it manages to cut through my defenses and pierce the veil of familiarity, it can be quite “afflicting.”
Yet, even though Holy Writ and its expression in song, sermon, and poem can be disquieting, it also attracts with a mysterious pull. So, you can find yourself alternately avoiding serious and deep reading and being drawn to its pages. In this text, some are going away and some are clinging to the journey with Jesus. Can you identify both those dynamics working within your life?. At times, are we not like those who find this too tough and leave? At times, are we not like Peter. “To whom can we go?”
It may help help to know that those places where we feel stretched are the very spaces into which God’s love and transforming grace are attempting to reach. Those places of “dis-ease” are the spots on the limb of life where buds are attempting to sprout. God’s Word is becoming personal to us through the Spirit’s internal witness.
Perhaps after we withdraw from truth’s reaching fingers, to paraphrase Auden, we can get a grip on our dis-ease and welcome the touch of that friendly, searching hand. Perhaps that mysterious, persistent love that pushes gently against our resistance will hear our cry, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9).
* W. H. Auden, "The Quest," in W. H. Auden: Collected Poems, ed. Edward
Mendelson (New York: Random House, 1976), p. 228.
Collect of the Day, Proper 16, the eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 232-233)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Martin de Porres, Rosa de Lima, and Torobio of Mogrovejo.
Collect of the Feast of Martin de Porres, Rosa de Lima, and Torobio of Mogrovejo.
Merciful God, you sent your Gospel to the people of Peru through Martin de Porres, who brought its comfort even to slaves; and through Rosa de Lima, who worked among the poorest of the poor; Help us to follow their example in bringing fearlessly the comfort of your grace to all downtrodden and outcast people, that your Church may be renewed with songs of salvation and praise; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For the Church
Give to your Church, O God,
a bold vision and a daring charity,
a refreshed wisdom and a courteous understanding,
that the eternal message of your Son
may be acclaimed as the good news of the age;
through him who makes all things new,
even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (1)
(1) This Franciscan-inspired prayer was offered by our chaplains during this meeting of the House of Bishops.. House of Bishops, ECUSA, March 2008
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
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