Today's Morning Reflection
Here is today's (or the most
recent) "Morning Reflection"
Monday, January
23, 2012 -- Week of 3 Epiphany, Year Two
Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts, 1893
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, 945)
Psalms 41, 52 (morning) 44 (evening)
Genesis 14:(1-7)8-24
Hebrews
8:1-13
John 4:43-54
Word of Jesus' return to Cana in Galilee reached Capernaum, a town on the lake, about
eighteen miles from Cana. A royal official traveled from Capernaum to Cana to see Jesus. This royal official would
have had a position in the service of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee who ruled there for forty-two years, including
throughout Jesus' ministry. It was Herod Antipas who arrested and executed Jesus' cousin John the Baptist. John
had publicly condemned Antipas for his marriage to his half-brother's wife. There is a place in Luke's gospel where
a group of Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod Antipas was plotting to kill Jesus as well.
The encounter between
the royal official and Jesus is interesting. One wonders if the official might have taken some risks in approaching
Jesus on behalf of his dying son. Some among Jesus' group might have suspected some sort of trap. Is this official
up to something that would lead to Jesus' arrest? Don't follow him back.
It turns out to be a legitimate
request. The man's son is ill. Jesus honors his request, telling to him, "Go; your son will live."
It is important to John to say that the man "believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way."
During the eighteen mile journey home, he was met by servants with the news that the child took a turn for the better at the
hour of the conversation with Jesus.
Jesus does good without recourse to the relative merit, or lack of merit,
of the royal official. He did not reject the man because he was a servant of Herod Antipas, despite the cruel treatment
to John. Jesus did not lecture or correct the man, or demand that he cease his service to Antipas. Jesus did not
refuse the heal the child because of the questionable status of the father. (That might be something to reflect on the
next time a Christian legislator introduces a policy recommendation to restrict public medical or educational funds to children
whose parents have immigrated here without having gone through the nearly impossible business of being legal about it.)
Amazing generosity. Jesus offers compassion to the royal official of Herod Antipas. He heals the man's
child. How might that instruct the way we relate to those who misuse their power and authority? How might that
inform us about our attitude toward our enemies?
Lowell
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"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the
Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.
Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
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