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The Still Point

A Time of Meditation and Reflection

Third Sunday after Pentecost:

Proper Six

 ... At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,There would be no dance, and there is only the dance...

T.S. Eliot, Burnt Norton

            Peace on each one who comes in need;

            Peace on each one who comes in joy. 

            Peace on each one who offers prayers;

            Peace on each one who offers song. 

            Peace of the Maker, Peace of the Son,

            Peace of the Spirit, the Triune One.

Opening Prayer

Loving creator of all, watch over us…and keep us in the light of your presence. May our praise continually blend with the song of all creation, until we come to those eternal joys which you promise in your love through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

The Gospel                                                                                                 Matthew 9:35-10:14

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

Poem: “Wherever There Are Tyrant Voices”                             by Thomas H. Troeger (b. 1945)

Leader: Wherever there are tyrant voices breeding hatred and prejudice,People: Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit.Wherever fear is paralyzing the capacity to do justice and show compassion,Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit.Wherever human souls are depressed and divided and at war with themselves,Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit.Wherever nations are driven by forces of exploitation and oppression,Silence, Lord the unclean spirit.Wherever people are afraid to call on your name because of doubt or lack of freedom,Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit.Wherever hostility is fueling abuse and mindless violence,Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit.

Meditation

A prominent theme of this week's gospel reading involves curing the sick and casting out demons and unclean spirits. How do we as followers of Jesus in the 21st century receive and process the related stories and teachings? Do we look at miracles of cure and healing as happening mostly in the past, the present, or both? As happening often, or only rarely? How do scientific and medical advances affect the way we think about such things?The poem may help us to expand our thinking about where we find unclean spirits in the world, we live in. The poem is from Borrowed Light, by Thomas H. Troeger (1993).In his introduction the author states that he envisioned the use of some of his texts in a liturgical setting. The poem above was actually given as a responsive prayer, with Leader and People indications added. The leader says each "Wherever" statement, with the people responding "Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit."Imagining a liturgical and communal context for this poem may add to its power and impact. 

Questions for Reflection

• Jesus says to his disciples "As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." How might this command apply to us as present-day followers of Jesus, and as a community at St. Andrew's? Are there specific examples that come to your mind and heart?
• What do you think of the poem's pointing to forces or systems where we may find unclean spirits at work?
• Which "Wherever" statement in the poem do you find especially urgent and timely?

Prayers

We bring before God someone whom we have met or remembered todayWe bring to God someone who is hurting tonight and needs our prayerWe bring to God a troubled situation in our worldWe bring to God, silently, someone whom we find hard to forgive or trustWe bring ourselves to God that we might grow in generosity of spirit, clarity of mind, and warmth of affectionWe offer our thanks to God for the blessings in our livesWe name before God those who have died. Gracious God, you hear all our prayers: those we speak aloud, those we hold in our hearts, and those prayers for which we have no words. Hear the prayers of your people, and grant them as may be best for us, for the sake of your holy name. Amen.    Accept our thanks for all you have done, O God. Our hands were empty, and you filled them.May Christ’s holy, healing, enabling Spirit be with us every step of the way, and be our guide as our road changes and turns, and the blessing of God our Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be among us now and remain with us forever. Amen. Reflections this month offered by: Frank Nowell