Reflection Day 97
Ezra 10; Psalm 136; Corinthians 11
Bede says of Ezra, “Now Ezra himself was clearly a type of the Lord Savior too, inasmuch as he restored sacred Scripture, recalled the people out from captivity to Jerusalem, enriched the Lord’s house with greater gifts, appointed leaders and guardians beyond the river Euphrates who were familiar with God’s law and purified the descendants of the exiles from their foreign wives.” (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, V, ed. By M. Conti, p. 331)
Ezra, “in mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles,” gathered the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Insisting that they sit in an open square in the freezing rain, Ezra urged the exiles to “make a confession to the Lord…” Ezra saw the returned exiles as a godly remnant and begged them to renew the covenantal teachings and behaviors, handed down to from God to Moses. Teachings that kept them distinct – a people chosen by God. Ezra urged them to separate themselves from wives and children who held pagan beliefs, and who might possibly lead them astray. He stressed the importance of returning to God with an undivided heart, soul, and mind. He encouraged them to “Make a confession to the Lord the God of their ancestors, and do his will; to separate themselves from the peoples of the land and from foreign wives.”
The exiles agreed. “It is so,” they cried out. They separated themselves from wives and children. They made sacrifices in order to once again be in right relationship with God.
Ezra was a hard worker – devoted to the mission of bringing people into a right relationship with God.
The psalmist tells us in 26 different ways that God’s “steadfast Love endures forever,” even when we are in “our low estate.”
Charles H. Spurgeon said of Psalm 136, “We know not by whom this Psalm was written, but we do know that it was sung in Solomon's temple (2Ch 7:3, 6), and by the armies of Jehoshaphat when they sang themselves into victory in the wilderness of Tekoa. From the striking form of it we should infer that it was a popular hymn among the Lord's ancient people. Most hymns with a solid, simple chorus become favourites with congregations, and this is sure to have been one of the best beloved. It contains nothing but praise. It is tuned to rapture, and can only be fully enjoyed by a devoutly grateful heart.”
The psalmist was a hard worker – devoted to the mission of bringing people into a right relationship with God.
In Corinthians Paul chastises those who “eat the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner…” He reminds the newly converted Christians that they need to set aside differences of income, class and habit. Paul teaches that in coming together to share in the body and blood of Christ – the Eucharistic meal – we are all one before God. He points out that if we are to achieve a right relationship with God we must approach the Eucharistic table in humility and with love (Agape).
In his 1994 book, A Feast of Meanings: Eucharistic Theologies from Jesus through Johannine Circles, Bruce Chilton wrote that Paul "indeed 'received from the Lord' (1 Corinthians 11:23) what he 'handed over' to his hearers (1 Corinthians 11:2). Eugene LaVerdiere wrote: "That is how Paul introduced the tradition, presenting himself as a link in the chain of Eucharistic tradition. He received the tradition of Eucharist in the early 40s while in the community at Antioch. He handed it on to the Corinthians in the year 51 when first proclaiming the gospel to them. Like Paul, the Corinthians also were to become a link in the chain of Eucharistic tradition, handing on to others what Paul handed on to them.
The letters of Paul and the Acts of the Apostles make it clear that early Christianity believed that this institution included a mandate to continue the celebration as an anticipation in this life of the joys of the banquet that was to come in the Kingdom of God.
Paul was a hard worker – devoted to the mission of bringing people into a right relationship with God.
Throughout Scripture we are reminded that, in one way or another, God expects us to remain in “right relationship” with him. Our covenantal promise demands that we have no other gods; that we move through life in neighborly love; and that when we experience a crisis of fidelity we “repent and return” to the Lord.
God expects that we will be hard workers – devoted to the mission of being in, and bringing others into, a right relationship with him.
To whom do you turn for nurture and guidance in this lifelong spiritual journey? How do you keep your relationship with God in the forefront of your life? How do you help others as they struggle to remain in right relationship with God?
The Rev. Clelia P. Garrity, LCSW; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Delray Beach, FL
Ezra 10; Psalm 136; Corinthians 11
Bede says of Ezra, “Now Ezra himself was clearly a type of the Lord Savior too, inasmuch as he restored sacred Scripture, recalled the people out from captivity to Jerusalem, enriched the Lord’s house with greater gifts, appointed leaders and guardians beyond the river Euphrates who were familiar with God’s law and purified the descendants of the exiles from their foreign wives.” (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, V, ed. By M. Conti, p. 331)
Ezra, “in mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles,” gathered the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Insisting that they sit in an open square in the freezing rain, Ezra urged the exiles to “make a confession to the Lord…” Ezra saw the returned exiles as a godly remnant and begged them to renew the covenantal teachings and behaviors, handed down to from God to Moses. Teachings that kept them distinct – a people chosen by God. Ezra urged them to separate themselves from wives and children who held pagan beliefs, and who might possibly lead them astray. He stressed the importance of returning to God with an undivided heart, soul, and mind. He encouraged them to “Make a confession to the Lord the God of their ancestors, and do his will; to separate themselves from the peoples of the land and from foreign wives.”
The exiles agreed. “It is so,” they cried out. They separated themselves from wives and children. They made sacrifices in order to once again be in right relationship with God.
Ezra was a hard worker – devoted to the mission of bringing people into a right relationship with God.
The psalmist tells us in 26 different ways that God’s “steadfast Love endures forever,” even when we are in “our low estate.”
Charles H. Spurgeon said of Psalm 136, “We know not by whom this Psalm was written, but we do know that it was sung in Solomon's temple (2Ch 7:3, 6), and by the armies of Jehoshaphat when they sang themselves into victory in the wilderness of Tekoa. From the striking form of it we should infer that it was a popular hymn among the Lord's ancient people. Most hymns with a solid, simple chorus become favourites with congregations, and this is sure to have been one of the best beloved. It contains nothing but praise. It is tuned to rapture, and can only be fully enjoyed by a devoutly grateful heart.”
The psalmist was a hard worker – devoted to the mission of bringing people into a right relationship with God.
In Corinthians Paul chastises those who “eat the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner…” He reminds the newly converted Christians that they need to set aside differences of income, class and habit. Paul teaches that in coming together to share in the body and blood of Christ – the Eucharistic meal – we are all one before God. He points out that if we are to achieve a right relationship with God we must approach the Eucharistic table in humility and with love (Agape).
In his 1994 book, A Feast of Meanings: Eucharistic Theologies from Jesus through Johannine Circles, Bruce Chilton wrote that Paul "indeed 'received from the Lord' (1 Corinthians 11:23) what he 'handed over' to his hearers (1 Corinthians 11:2). Eugene LaVerdiere wrote: "That is how Paul introduced the tradition, presenting himself as a link in the chain of Eucharistic tradition. He received the tradition of Eucharist in the early 40s while in the community at Antioch. He handed it on to the Corinthians in the year 51 when first proclaiming the gospel to them. Like Paul, the Corinthians also were to become a link in the chain of Eucharistic tradition, handing on to others what Paul handed on to them.
The letters of Paul and the Acts of the Apostles make it clear that early Christianity believed that this institution included a mandate to continue the celebration as an anticipation in this life of the joys of the banquet that was to come in the Kingdom of God.
Paul was a hard worker – devoted to the mission of bringing people into a right relationship with God.
Throughout Scripture we are reminded that, in one way or another, God expects us to remain in “right relationship” with him. Our covenantal promise demands that we have no other gods; that we move through life in neighborly love; and that when we experience a crisis of fidelity we “repent and return” to the Lord.
God expects that we will be hard workers – devoted to the mission of being in, and bringing others into, a right relationship with him.
To whom do you turn for nurture and guidance in this lifelong spiritual journey? How do you keep your relationship with God in the forefront of your life? How do you help others as they struggle to remain in right relationship with God?
The Rev. Clelia P. Garrity, LCSW; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Delray Beach, FL
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