Arise, O God, and rule the earth, for you shall take all nations
for your own. [Psalm
82:8]
Therefore, since we
are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every
weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the
race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our
faith... [Hebrews 12:1-2a]
Do you think that I
have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From
now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against
three...You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and
sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? [Luke 12:51-52, 56]
In the dining room of my paternal Great-Grandmother, who was born
in 1867, was a framed calligraphed message that read: Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal,
the silent listener to every conversation. As a child, it both fascinated and frightened me and I often
tried to avoid going into the room, possibly thinking and hoping that was the
only place the charm worked! I was not quite 12 when she died and, for reasons
I still do not understand, I asked if I could have it and it was given. I still
have it though it is carefully packed away because of its age and fragility. It
no longer frightens me yet when I think of it, as with this week’s readings, I
am caught a bit short, or, perhaps more than a bit.
God is blunt in Jeremiah: Who can hide in secret places so that I
cannot see them? I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in
my name…Is not my word like fire? God is equally clear in the Psalm
when castigating unjust gods who show favor to the
wicked…Nevertheless, says God, you shall die like mortals,
and fall like any prince.
Paul gives us equal clarity for our path now and going forward by emphasizing
the role of faith that kept the ancients on their road to God,
despite all manner of hardship. He points us to Jesus the pioneer and
perfecter of our faith as our guide. Yet not only is God nearby,
and Jesus within us, along with the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul reminds us
that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, those who
have persevered in the life we have each been given. Are we repelled, or at
least unsettled as I was with the plaque as a child, or comforted and bolstered
by the wonder of a God who knows all we say and do, with Jesus as perfection
when we are so imperfect, and a Cloud filled with support?
In this piece from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus seems uncharacteristically harsh
when he tells us that he came to bring fire to the earth and division within
households. At first glance it strikes a particularly disheartening chord in
these days of fiery political and “religious” false rhetoric that seems
designed to enflame passions and instill fear, especially among the weak
and the poor. Families, friends, and nations are torn apart by
mortals-who-would-be-gods. However, the fire of God and Jesus
isn’t intended to burn us to a crisp and turn the Earth into an orbiting
cinder, ruled by the “winners” of the race that is set before us.
This fire is the refiner’s fire of purifying and cleansing,
removing the dross – the junk and rubble that weakens our faith. It is a call,
even a warning to us to re-order our priorities, our principles, what we value,
our purpose in life. This fire will be uncomfortable as we
turn away from the temptations of all the false gold that glitters, but the
reward is beyond all joy that we can imagine. Jesus, impatient for us to
understand, knew at that moment that his baptism of blood
would come first. Our next baptism is upon us.
This
mortal life is not meant to be a “rat-race” to the finish. Yet it will finish
at a time unknown and unexpected. As that clock ticks on, I must now ask
myself, again, what am I still trying to hide from that Unseen Listener?
Maybe, the unseen listener is also me, hearing my own
rationalizing easy temptations, as well as Jesus who is listening to
see how I am hearing and heeding His words. I know that I need to be less of a lurking listener who is judging others who don't meet my particular specifications. Ok, it's time for me to go re-read that
plaque and make some plans, again, to try to unthink some things I think or at very least un-speak them, and, to ask The Listener for some continuing help.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
O Lord Most High, kindle our hearts and refine our souls with the
purifying fire of Your Presence. Guide us to run with perseverance the
race and understand the division from those who have not yet found their
enduring faith.
Arise, O
God
RESPONSE: Fire our Faith
~ O Lord Most High, with the
courage and wisdom of the celestial Cloud of Witnesses beside us, let our
voices be heard by the leaders of our Earth, our Country, and our Community, to
lay aside the clinging sins of destructive and unholy words and actions. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Arise, O God
Fire
our Faith
~ O Lord Most High, sustain
and comfort all who suffer physically, emotionally, or spiritually, and renew
all who offer supportive care. We now join our hearts together to pray for
those in need… add your own petitions
Arise, O God
Fire
our Faith
~ O Lord Most High, accompany the mournful through their trials of loss,
as the choirs of Heaven sing in jubilance for those now arrived in the splendor
of Your Eternal Kingdom… add your own petitions
Arise, O God
Fire
our Faith
~ O Lord Most High,
we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or
silently… add your own petitions
Arise, O God
Fire
our Faith
~ O Lord Most
High, grant the grace of authenticity to those we choose to interpret the truth
in your Word, guiding us as together we sift through the deceits and false
prophecy of those who use distortion for their own secret purpose. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Arise, O God
Fire
our Faith
The
Celebrant adds: O Lord our
God, Who rules the Earth, transform the fires of discord, violence, and hate
that rage across this planet into the cleansing waters of Baptism, revealing
the glory of Salvation, beneath the dross of human excess, and the eternal
beauty of the Gospel message. We ask through Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter
of Faith; and the Holy Spirit, the Fire of Wisdom; who together with You are
One God, in the blaze of Mercy, Justice, and Everlasting Peace, forever and
ever. Amen.
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