e-vo for week of June 22

Dearest e-votees-

June 24 is the day set aside in the church calendar to commemorate the ministry of John the Baptist. As for all days in the church year there is set aside 4 readings including a reading from one of the psalms. For our devotional focus this week we will spend some time around the psalm reading that is appointed for this Friday.

Peace,
Karl

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1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you. 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me. Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head, for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. 6 When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that my words were pleasant. 7 Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. 8 But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless. 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.

Psalm 141, NRSV (attributed to David)

For those who are familiar with Holden Evening vespers you might recognize the source material for “Let My Prayers Rise Before You as Incense” in the words of this psalm.

For all of us we are offered to behold a deep prayer for deliverance and protection. One who is tempted and vulnerable and realizing that there are options and consequences cries out to God for guidance and strength. One who feels set upon prays for deliverance from those who seek to do harm—and prays that they will be trapped by their own snares. One who wants to do right but knows how easy it is to spill sin across the lips in terms of a wild tongue and how easy it is to let the delicacies of the wicked cross those same lips. From that same mouth—that can be at times contemptuous and at other times tempted—comes an earnest prayer for God’s intervention.

Perhaps these words are more than just a snapshot of prayer from thousands of years ago from a prayerful heart in more primitive times. Perhaps there are words and hopes and deep cries of a heart that resonate with us too.

Are we tempted and vulnerable? Are we feeling set up and in need of deliverance? Do we see traps or snares or pitfalls that just might consume us? Do we want to do right but know all too well the temptation to speak rash and ill-conceived words? Do we wish to live honorably but know all too well how tempting the banquets are that aren’t from God? Do we pray as does the psalmist? Or do we wish we would? Or do we have trouble eking out a prayer at all? God enters into our struggle with a word of hope and love.

The power of John’s ministry is mostly in that he points away from himself to Christ. He does what he is to do and fades to the background. We have work and ministries to do. Ministries and work that God has created and called us to tend. The Holy Spirit is alive and well in us to help us tend to that work—to tend to that ministry. And when we are done we don’t need to seek a “Well done, good and faithful servant”—we can trust that Jesus meant it when he said “It is finished.” Jesus has done what is required. We are invited to be part of the unfolding of what he has done. In this way we get to partner with John in pointing to Jesus. Thanks be to God.


God, stir us by your Holy Spirit to be people of prayer. Stir us by your Holy Spirit to be different and faithful and bold and daring and willing to give it all in the world for your sake—as did John the Baptist. Stir us by your Holy Spirit to be loving and faithful and attentive and willing to give it all for your sake—as did the woman anointing your feet with her tears. Stir us up by your Holy Spirit to be bold and loving and daring and faithful in order to communicate your good news to all who might hear—as did the early church and as the church has continued to do ever since. Amen.