Tag: Feast of Booths

Morning Prayer, 14 Feb – John 7:53-8:11 ~ not so fast

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – Hild of Whitby (614-80)

Take me often from the tumult of things into Thy presence. There show me what I am, and what Thou hast purposed me to be. Then hide me from Thy tears.

Morning readings

John 7:53-8:11 ESV:

They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

stoneThe scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Reflections:

entrapment

The Jewish leaders’ treatment of the woman is callous and demeaning – she is being used by them to test Jesus. Filled with fear, putting her in the midst of the crowd only added public humiliation. Their ungodly actions show no concern whatsoever for the soul of this woman.

reprieve

None of the accusers want to take responsibility for the woman’s stoning as they reflect on their own sinfulness before God. They had condemned her in their accusations, but by not following through on the charge they had thrown out her case. Their withdrawal was in fact a confession of sin. Those who came to condemn ended up condemning themselves by not casting a stone.

pardon

Jesus grants pardon, not acquittal, since the call to leave off sinning shows he knew she was indeed guilty of the adultery. Here is mercy and righteousness. He condemned the sin and not the sinner. But more than that, he called her to a new life. The gospel is not only the forgiveness of sins, but a new quality of life that overcomes the power of sin.

balance

As Augustine noted (In John 33.8), we are in danger from both hope and despair. That is, we can have a false optimism that says “God is merciful so I can do as I please” or a despair that says “there is no forgiveness for the sin I have committed.” This story shows we should keep these two inclinations in balance.

There is no sin that God does not forgive. Christ’s death atoned for all sin. The only sin that remains unforgiven is the one that is not repented of. But, on the other hand, God’s call to us is to intimacy with himself, and sin cannot be in his presence any more than darkness can be in the presence of light.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer, 13 Feb – John 7:40-52 ~ mistaken identity

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – Hild of Whitby (614-80)

My soul’s desire is to study the Scriptures and to learn the ways of God. My soul’s desire is to be freed from all fear and sadness, and to share Christ’s risen life. My soul’s desire is to imitate my King, and to sing His purposes always. My soul’s desire is to enter the gates of heaven and to gaze upon the light that shines forever.

Morning readings

John 7:40-52 ESV:

who-is-jesus

When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Reflections:

mixed response

Some in the crowd see Jesus as a prophet like Moses. Others conclude he is the Messiah. But others reject Jesus because of his supposed earthly origins.

Still others reject Jesus on the basis of their understanding of Scripture – if Jesus is the one he claims to be, then Scripture will have to be interpreted around him. This means that much of the Jewish interpretation of God’s revelation regarding the nation, the land, the temple and the law itself will have to be rethought.

rigid opposition

The settled opposition of the Jewish leadership is contrasted with a few of their associates’ favorable response to Jesus — first their servants and then Nicodemus, one of their own members.

The temple guards return empty-handed because they are struck by the uniqueness of Jesus’ teaching – they had heard the eternal Word speaking about himself, about God and about the salvation he had brought in fulfillment of the promises made through the prophets – they had heard the words of life. The Jewish leadership accuse their servants of having been deceived… as they are the only ones learned in the Scriptures and capable of discerning the truth of religious teaching.

Nicodemus is still inclined toward Jesus; he is even willing to stick up for him in the face of severe opposition. Nicodemus points out that the Pharisees’ whole way of handling the situation is contrary to the very law they are claiming to uphold. But they change the subject, arguing against a prophet coming out of Galilee… and then turn on Nicodemus, questioning his origins and understanding of Scripture.

terms of agreement

As Jesus continues to act and speak it is increasingly clear that one must either receive him and his message on his own terms or utterly reject him.

We should hold firmly to what has been revealed in Scripture under the guidance the Spirit has given the church, but we must do so in an abiding relationship with the living God in whose presence we live. We must hold firmly to him in his objectively real presence and allow him to correct our personal, faulty understandings of him and his ways. The truth is in Jesus is perfection, but our apprehension of him is not yet perfect.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer, 12 Feb – John 7:37-39 ~ come and drink

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – Chad of Lichfield (?-672)

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.

You pour life into me, giving me speech, sense, desire, giving me thought and action. My fame or repute will be just as You allow: You mark the way before me.

On Your path, O my God, and not my own, be all my journeying. Rule this heart of mine that it be only Yours.

Morning readings

"Rivers of Living Water" Kathleen McGuffin Arts Alive
“Rivers of Living Water”
Kathleen McGuffin
Arts Alive

John 7:37-39 ESV:

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Reflections:

Living Water

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3)

What Jesus offers is the fulfillment of the very things they were celebrating. Here the Son is repeating the offer of the Father, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). Indeed, he is fulfilling the role of God, who “will guide them and lead them beside springs of water” (Isaiah 49:10). Here we have God himself offering us life.

Holy Spirit

Those who believe in Jesus will receive the Spirit. However, those listening to Jesus could not receive this Spirit until he was glorified, that is, until Jesus’ death.

Until the Son’s death, the heart of God could not be known and thus eternal life, which is knowledge of God, could not yet be experienced. Until the death of the Son, the life of God could not be conveyed by the Spirit.

Come and Drink

Jesus invites believers, those who know their need, to come to him – which means aligning oneself with him, trusting him, receiving his teaching and obeying his commands. Such faith enables us to receive the Spirit and enter an abiding relationship with Christ.

When we believe… we open our hands to receive what God’s grace offers — we come and drink.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer, 10 Feb – John 7:14-24 ~ beneath the surface

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-87)

Softly as the dew-fall of heaven, may the Holy Spirit come upon me to aid me and to raise me, to bind my prayer firmly at the throne of the King of life.

God’s will would I do, my own will bridle; God’s due would I give, my own due yield; God’s path would I travel, my own path refuse.

All whom I love, into Your safe keeping; all that I am, into Your tender care; all that will be, into Your perfect will. Amen.

Morning readings

John 7:14-24 ESV:

Cross of Jesus underwater in the Petoskey Bay, MI
Cross of Jesus underwater in the Petoskey Bay, MI

Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.

So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”

The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”

Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

Reflections:

credentials

How did this man get such learning without having studied? Jesus says, My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. Jesus’ teaching comes directly from God.

Since God is the one who has sent Jesus, the opponents’ alienation from God is again made clear. Their struggle is with God himself.

validation

How is such a claim to be assessed? Jesus points to our internal disposition… to our hearts. If our hearts are God-centered rather than self-centered, then we will be able to recognize God’s voice in a teacher come from God.

To choose to do God’s will is not just a matter of moral purity as such; it is a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, a seeking first the kingdom. Such a heart is open to God, committed to him and his ways and willing to act on what is revealed.

right judgement

The opponents are observing the letter of the law, but do not understand what the law is really about – its witness to Jesus… and its goal of expressing God’s own love and mercy in the life of God’s people. Making a right judgment is dependent on seeking God’s will and not one’s own. They have no depth in themselves and thus cannot recognize God at work among them.

To will God’s will is to have a purity of heart and a clarity of vision that come through death to self. Until we have found our own heart (which lies deeper than our emotions and imagination) and made contact with God there, we too will be in danger of judging by appearances instead of with right judgment.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

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Lower my vengeance, my anger and my hatred, and banish my wicked thoughts from me; send down a drop from heaven of Your holy Spirit to vanquish this heart of rock of mine. Amen.

Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-87)
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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.

Morning Prayer, 8 Feb – John 7:1-13 ~ in God’s time

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences – Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-87)

My eyes, my eyes have seen the King. The vision of His beauty has pierced me deep within. To whom else can I go?

My heart, my heart desires Him. He’s touched something inside of me that’s now reaching out for Him. And I know that I must go.

Morning readings

John 7:1-13 ESV:

image

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.

Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

Reflections:

trouble

It appears Jesus’ movement is falling apart. Many disciples have left Jesus, his betrayal is in view, and he has to lay low in Galilee because of death threats in Judea. Jesus’ brothers give him some family advice: he should go back to Judea and do some miracles so that his disciples may see the miracles he does. However, Jesus’ aim is not to gain a following but to reveal his Father by being faithful and obedient to him. Jesus does not need suggestions from others, even those closest to him in his family.

The problem with their timing is precisely that it is theirs and not God’s. Rather than being of God they are of the world; that is, they are among those who are alienated from God. Evil is understood as that which is not of the Father. Jesus’ statement to his brothers is an example of his testimony to the world’s evil, for he reveals that their apparent faith is, in fact, not faith at all.

timing

The fact that Jesus does actually go to the feast suggests that he received instructions from the Father to go after he spoke to his brothers. Such apparent inconsistency is a common feature in the lives of believers who are sensitive to the Lord’s leading. “The one consistency of the saint is not to a principle, but to the Divine life” (Oswald Chambers). Not even those closest to Jesus in human terms could influence him. He must be entirely open and obedient to God.

truth

In our pluralistic society we have lost the sense of significance regarding religious views. Jesus and his opponents cannot both be correct, and the choosing between them has eternal consequences. If Jesus is Lord, then he cannot be wedded to any other religion or philosophy. Rather, he is the standard of truth by which we assess all other claims.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

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Canticle:

Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.

Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.

On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.

Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.