Proper Twenty-one 10/01/23
The Still Point
A Time of Meditation and Reflection
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper Twenty-one
(Creation Care Sunday)
... 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
O God, you show your glory throughout your Creation, calling it very good: Grant us the fullness of your blessing, that we, stewarding your garden, may become partakers in your joy; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
The Gospel Luke 12:22-32
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you, by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! And do not keep seeking what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Poem: “Morning at Blackwater” by Mary Oliver
It's almost dawn
and the usual half-miracles begin
within my own personal body as the light
enters the gates of the east and climbs
into the fields of the sky, and the birds lift
their very unimportant heads from the branches
and begin to sing; and the insects too,
and the rustling leaves, and even
that most common of earthly things, the grass,
can't let it begin - another morning - without
making some comment of gladness, respiring softly
with the honey of their green bodies; and the white
blossoms of the swamp honeysuckle, hovering just where
the path and the pond almost meet,
shake from the folds of their bodies
such happiness it enters the air of fragrance,
the day's first pale and elegant affirmation.
And the old gods liked so well, they say,
the sweet odor of prayer.
Meditation
There is a growing movement among followers of Jesus urging that we embrace a renewed "spirituality of creation" to help us understand and respond meaningfully to the daunting challenges of our times. As a foundation for such a spirituality, we need look no further (in addition to the scriptures) than the life and teaching of St. Francis of Assisi. Along with his own vow of poverty and his solidarity with the poor and marginalized, Francis viewed nature as God's mirror and considered all creatures his sisters and brothers. In the words of Pope Francis (in his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si) Francis is "the example of par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically."
The gospel reading from Luke, one of the alternate readings for this Sunday in the Season of Creation, we are invited to learn from the lilies how to live less anxiously... and with a deeper focus on God's realm. The poem by Mary Oliver harmonizes this teaching from Jesus, suggesting that the birds (which we may think of as unimportant) and the common grass and honeysuckle may have much to teach us about prayer and about living in the world.
The gospel and the example of St. Francis, together with this poem and similar ones, invite us to enter more deeply into an integrated spirituality of creation. Contemplation may lead us naturally and seamlessly into action (and perhaps advocacy), as we respond with both hope and urgency to the challenges facing our planet.
Questions for Reflection
What keywords and phrases from the Gospel reading and poem are most meaningful to you?
What inspires you in the life and teaching of St. Francis? What invites you to make new commitments or changes in your own life? Where might his example lead us as a St. Andrew's community?
You may wish to consider the resources on "Creation Care" on this site from the Episcopal church for reflection and action:
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/creation-care/
Prayers
We bring before God someone whom we have met or remembered today
We bring to God someone who is hurting tonight and needs our prayer
We bring to God a troubled situation in our world
We bring to God, silently, someone whom we find hard to forgive or trust
We bring ourselves to God that we might grow in generosity of spirit, clarity of mind, and warmth of affection
We offer our thanks to God for the blessings in our lives
We 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
