11 Pentecost, C p 16, August 25, 2019
Jer. 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6
Hebrews 12:18-19,22-29 Luke 13:10-17
Lectionary Link
The very quotable St. Augustine of Hippo is responsible for giving every singer extra credit in their religious behaviors by saying, "The one who sings, prays twice." And this accounts for why the primo uomo (male counter of prima donna) tenor of the parish choir only came to church half of the time, because he felt like he would get equal attendance credit to match the attendance of the average bloke in the pews.
In our appointed Gospel for this day, we read that Jesus is criticized by religious leaders for doing the "work" of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus then exposed the hypocrisy of separating religious ritual behaviors from the doing of religion in one's life.
I would update the quote of St. Augustine in this way by saying, "The one who heals, prays thrice. The one who practices social justice, prays thrice. The one who loves one's neighbor as oneself, prays thrice."
In religious terminology, one calls "right thinking or right believing, " orthodox thinking and believing. And religious authorities are often quick to defend what they believe to be orthodox, even if orthodoxy has come to be the enforcement of all of the rules and minutiae of the religious institution.
How easy it is for religions to reduce orthodoxy to the religious administration of the community. And in subtle ways, orthodoxy can become reduced to preserving the roles and the authority of the religious leaders; orthodoxy can be divorced from the performance of what is good for the well-being of people.
One of the most forgotten kinds of prayer is what is called oblationary prayer. Oblationary prayer is when one offers the deeds of one's life as a continuous prayer to God, especially as one actively performs the love of one's neighbor as oneself.
Jesus was healing on the Sabbath. Jesus was doing the oblationary prayer of healing on the Sabbath. And isn't the Sabbath supposed to be a day of prayer?
Our society requires many people to do oblationary prayer on Sunday, the day of worship. Doctors, nurses, and all first responders are required to do oblationary deeds on Sundays. What if we called 911 on Sunday and the operator said, "I'm sorry but the fire personnel, the EMT and the police cannot help you today, but we will get back to you on Monday?"
This would be ridiculous, right? This highlights the silliness of not including oblationary prayer as prayer which is valid at all time, including on the days that are designated for the special liturgical prayers of the gathered community.
One might also posit that the very purpose of Sabbath or Sunday prayer is to inspire the continuous practice of oblationary prayers, the active prayers of healing, kindness, justice, and love, always and everywhere in our lives.
The Gospel lesson for today reminds us not to separate oblationary prayers of healing and justice from our liturgical and ritual prayer lives. If we do, we truly are caught in hypocrisy.
What is the Gospel for us today then? If we heal, practice love and justice in the deeds of our lives, we truly are "praying thrice."
May God's Holy Spirit remind us to practice the oblationary prayers of healing, justice and love, always and everywhere, so that we can "pray thrice." Amen.
In our appointed Gospel for this day, we read that Jesus is criticized by religious leaders for doing the "work" of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus then exposed the hypocrisy of separating religious ritual behaviors from the doing of religion in one's life.
I would update the quote of St. Augustine in this way by saying, "The one who heals, prays thrice. The one who practices social justice, prays thrice. The one who loves one's neighbor as oneself, prays thrice."
In religious terminology, one calls "right thinking or right believing, " orthodox thinking and believing. And religious authorities are often quick to defend what they believe to be orthodox, even if orthodoxy has come to be the enforcement of all of the rules and minutiae of the religious institution.
How easy it is for religions to reduce orthodoxy to the religious administration of the community. And in subtle ways, orthodoxy can become reduced to preserving the roles and the authority of the religious leaders; orthodoxy can be divorced from the performance of what is good for the well-being of people.
One of the most forgotten kinds of prayer is what is called oblationary prayer. Oblationary prayer is when one offers the deeds of one's life as a continuous prayer to God, especially as one actively performs the love of one's neighbor as oneself.
Jesus was healing on the Sabbath. Jesus was doing the oblationary prayer of healing on the Sabbath. And isn't the Sabbath supposed to be a day of prayer?
Our society requires many people to do oblationary prayer on Sunday, the day of worship. Doctors, nurses, and all first responders are required to do oblationary deeds on Sundays. What if we called 911 on Sunday and the operator said, "I'm sorry but the fire personnel, the EMT and the police cannot help you today, but we will get back to you on Monday?"
This would be ridiculous, right? This highlights the silliness of not including oblationary prayer as prayer which is valid at all time, including on the days that are designated for the special liturgical prayers of the gathered community.
One might also posit that the very purpose of Sabbath or Sunday prayer is to inspire the continuous practice of oblationary prayers, the active prayers of healing, kindness, justice, and love, always and everywhere in our lives.
The Gospel lesson for today reminds us not to separate oblationary prayers of healing and justice from our liturgical and ritual prayer lives. If we do, we truly are caught in hypocrisy.
What is the Gospel for us today then? If we heal, practice love and justice in the deeds of our lives, we truly are "praying thrice."
May God's Holy Spirit remind us to practice the oblationary prayers of healing, justice and love, always and everywhere, so that we can "pray thrice." Amen.
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