Meditations of My Heart: Anglican Biblical & Theological Reflections

Meditations of My Heart: Anglican Biblical & Theological Reflections A collection of biblical theological reflections from an Anglican perspective by Deacon Daniel Woods

19/08/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY AUGUST 20, 2023
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24)

As Jesus travelled through the Gentile or non-Jewish region of Tyre and Sidon, two prosperous but spiritually hungry Roman port cities in modern day Lebanon, he is confronted by a Gentile woman, a Canaanite, who changes the course of his ministry by unexpectedly leading him to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah that, “… my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). This humble woman who believed in the healing power of Jesus had approached him to heal her possessed daughter, but surprisingly he showed no interest in helping her. Even his disciples complained to him, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us” (Matthew 15:23). Jesus agrees that they must focus on their own people, perhaps instinctively responding, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). After all, this was a Canaanite woman and as the Rev. Patrick A. Blair reminds us, mixing with others, especially Canaanites, had caused trouble for the Israelites in the past having been, “… constantly tempted to compromise with the idolatry and immorality practised by other nations (1 Ki. 14:24), so brining judgment on themselves (2 Ki. 17:7ff.; Ezk. 5:5ff.). On their return from the Exile the danger was still more insidious because of the corruptness of the Jews who had remained in Canaan (cf. Ezr. 6:21)” (New Bible Dictionary).

However, upon realizing that this woman was not just a troublesome Canaanite but a loving mother determined to heal her child with the conviction that Jesus was the only one who could save her, it seems he has a change of heart and responds, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish”, and with these words, “… her daughter was healed instantly” (Matthew 15:28). This would be a recurring theme in his divine mission to reveal the nature of God as love (ECP catechism: God the Son), scandalously sharing this love with those his own people would consider unworthy of attention, even enemies, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:46-47).

As we strive to, “… proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom” (Five Marks of Mission) to the world around us in our own generation, may we intentionally reach out to all people, especially those beyond our own familiar circles that we may find difficult to love, so that as the psalmist sings out, “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you” (Psalm 67:3). Let us pray, “Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen” (Collect for Proper 15).

Reflection on Matthew 15:21-28 by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office, and Deacon-in-Charge of Saint Margaret Episcopal Church, Antipolo City (Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines)

Image: "Jesus heals the daughter of a woman of Canaan" by Mr. William Brassey Hole (1846-1917), Scottish Episcopal Church (Anglican Communion)

ECP.Official

29/07/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY JULY 30, 2023
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed….” (Matthew 13:31)

While Jesus remained with the large crowd that had gathered to hear him at a beach, he continued speaking to them from a boat about the kingdom of heaven in many parables. The apostle Matthew tells us that, “… without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 13:34-35). Indeed, Jesus is the only Son of God and according to the great testimony of his divinity by the apostle John, “He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being” (John 1:2-3). One of the hidden truths revealed by Jesus is that, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32). The Rev. Dr. R. T. France’s interpretation of this parable is that, “… God’s work, the kingdom of heaven, may appear unimpressive at first, but appearances can be deceptive, and no-one will be able to ignore it in the end. In the meantime the disciples must be patient. Human valuation misses the point; little becomes great when God is at work” (New Bible Commentary). Do we sometimes find ourselves feeling impatient or even disappointed and losing hope with Jesus’ promise of the coming kingdom of heaven because of what we might perceive as slow growth or lack of participation in our church communities? Just like the mustard seed, we may simply be unable to perceive the great works of God unfolding in their own way and in their own time. As the apostle Peter reminds us in his second letter, “… do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9). Let us therefore remain hopeful in our Christian faith and witness, being as patient with God as he is with us, and allowing him to be in control of his own divine work with us willingly accepting our place as his mere servants.

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "Parable of the Mustard Seed" window at Washington National Cathedral (Diocese of Washington, The Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion)

📷 Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

ECP.Official

15/07/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY JULY 16, 2023
“Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:9)

How do we respond to the message of Jesus? In the apostle Matthew’s gospel we hear of Jesus being surrounded by such a large crowd at a seaside that he decides to address them from a boat while they stood on the beach, many perhaps there out of mere curiosity. He tells them parables about the kingdom of heaven, starting with a farmer sowing seed and highlighting the reality of the various responses by those hearing his message. Among the disappointing responses are seeds that fall on the path, representing those who will not listen; then there are seeds that fall on rocky places, representing those that respond only superficially; and then there are seeds that fall among the thorns, representing those who are more concerned about other things. Nonetheless, despite the often hostile and half hearted responses to his message, Jesus reassuringly tells the crowd that there will be seeds that fall on good soil, and to varying degrees, will faithfully respond and have access to the kingdom. Perhaps expressing his desire that all might respond faithfully, Jesus demands, “Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:9). According to the Rev. Dr. R. T. France, “The fault is in the hearers, not in the message…. how we hear will determine whether or not our discipleship is fruitful” (New Bible Commentary). Throughout both the old and new testaments there are many messages about hearing and listening. As Moses prepared the Israelites to enter the promised land, he reminded them of the greatest commandment by saying, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), and as Jesus was transfigured on a mountain in the presence of Peter, James and John, “… a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’” (Mark 9:7). Reflecting this emphasis, our ECP catechism reminds us that one of the purposes of our corporate worship is, “… to hear God's Word” (Prayer and Worship). Let us therefore faithfully hear and listen to the message of Jesus so that we may be among his fruitful disciples, and as the Letter of James reminds us, “… be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:22). Let us pray, “O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen” (Collect for Seventh Sunday after Pentecost).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "Parable of the Sower" window at Ely Cathedral (Diocese of Ely, Church of England, Anglican Communion)

📷 Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

ECP.Official

05/07/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY JULY 2, 2023
“... whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)

Are we willing to accept that following Jesus will require personal sacrifices? Throughout both the old and new testaments we can find a longing for peace. The prophet Isaiah’s vision of the nations finally acknowledging the sovereignty of God was that, “… they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4). The prophet Micah also expected the Messiah to enable the people to, “... live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace” (Micah 5:4-5). Jesus himself proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9) and, “… Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven...” (Matthew 5:44-45). Nonetheless, Jesus also acknowledged the reality that the Good News will not be willingly accepted by all and although desiring peace it was not be pursued at all costs exclaiming in dramatic and unsettling terms to his disciples, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). Proclaiming that, "The Messiah, or Christ, is Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son of God" (ECP catechism: Sin and Redemption) and therefore he is, "... the only perfect image of the Father, and shows us the nature of God" (ECP catechism: God the Son) may provoke unwanted conflict, even within our own families. Jesus prepared his disciples for this reality by being clear in his expectations to sacrifice all in pursuit of the truth: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:37-39). Indeed his early followers would soon discover the hard way what this meant. The first deacon and Christian martyr, Stephen, “… a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) and who, “… full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8), was stoned to death by an enraged council of elders in Jerusalem after being falsely accused of saying, “… blasphemous words against Moses and God” (Acts 6:11). Although approving of Stephen’s murder at the time, after his conversion, the apostle Paul also discovered the not so peaceful consequences of sharing the Good News when he caused a two hour riot in Ephesus where the temple of the Greek goddess Artemis was located, and two of his missionary companions were dragged in to the midst of it (Acts 19:29). This was sparked by the city’s artisans whose livelihoods depended on making silver shrines to Artemis and had become enraged when they heard that, “... not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods” (Acts 19:26). So although we must indeed, “Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14), we must always be prepared to share the Good News and to stand up for Jesus whatever the cost, taking up the cross for him in our own generation, even if it leads to conflict as we pursue, “… the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding…” (Philippians 4:7).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "Stoning of the Protomartyr" window at Ely Cathedral (Diocese of Ely, Church of England, Anglican Communion)

📷 Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

ECP.Official

05/07/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 18, 2023
“You received without payment, give without payment.” (Matthew 10:8)

As Jesus intensified his mission of healing and teaching, especially among his own people, clearly the task was too great for one man alone, even for the Son of God. He needed the assistance of his faithful followers giving them, “… authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness” and instructed them, “As you go, proclaim the good news” (Matthew 10:1, 7). According to the Rev. Dr. R. T. France, “The basis of this mission was in compassion, a strong word for an emotional response which always results in caring action” (New Bible Commentary). The compassion that Jesus had shown was now to be shown by his followers, even in their willingness to prioritise the urgency of the mission above their desire for material comforts and financial reward. As Jesus reminded them, “You received without payment, give without payment” (Matthew 10:8). Today we could describe this caring action as volunteering. During last year’s ECP Mission Conference, Prime Bishop Brent Harry W. Alawas encouraged the ECP to continue on the path to becoming more of a volunteering church which he described as, “... one where each member brings his or her gift to the corporate table and together we build, create and enhance our ecclesial communion.” Noting an increase in lay ministers, but particularly a community initiated church building boom throughout the ECP even while faced with financial challenges, he expressed his desire that, “… every Filipino Episcopalian’s dream must be to build his or her own church using whatever resources he or she can mobilize or to help craft other centers of faith with his or her own hands.” As we increase in the kind of compassion that results in such caring action as our willingness to engage in voluntary ministry and the building of beautiful and more permanent houses of worship to carry on the mission of Jesus in our own generation and in the generations to come, we will indeed have every reason to joyfully, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name” (Psalm 100).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: The Most Rev. Brent Harry W. Alawas (centre), Prime Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, with the Rev. Ned Tim G. Mapangdol (centre right), Rector of Holy Faith Parish Cainta, with volunteer labourers at the Holy Family Episcopal Church Biñan construction site (Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines).

ECP.Official

05/07/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 4, 2023
“When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:17)

In the final chapter of the Gospel According to Matthew, with Jesus having already been crucified and risen from the dead, he appears to his eleven remaining disciples on the mountain in Galilee where they had earlier been instructed to go and announces the Great Commission telling them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). This echoes the prophecy of Daniel centuries earlier that, “To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). All of this points to what we intentionally remember this Trinity Sunday, that the true nature of God that Jesus reveals to us and calls us to trust in is a co-eternal, co-equal and omnipotent Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other words, God has always existed as one united all powerful creator, redeemer and life giver, from the beginning of time and for eternity. This is most clearly defined in our creeds, especially the ancient Creed of Saint Athanasius which begins by affirming, “That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.” Although the word “Trinity” cannot be found in the Scriptures, the reality of its existence in the Scriptures is clear. Nonetheless, we discover that the disciples upon discovering that Jesus had truly been raised from the dead and was waiting at the mountain to commission them for the great task ahead having already proven his divinity as, “… the only perfect image of the Father” (ECP catechism: God the Son), the apostle Matthew recalls, “When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17). Anglican theologian, the Rev. Dr. R. T. France reflects that this doubt, “… denotes not intellectual unbelief but the hesitation natural to those confronted by a unique and ‘impossible’ occurrence” (New Bible Commentary). As inheritors of the Great Commission in our own generation faced with the many challenges of striving towards establishing God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, may we not be overcome by hesitation but instead be strengthened by embracing the God that Jesus reveals to us and praying, “Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” (Collect for Trinity Sunday).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "Scutum Fidei" (Shield of the Faith/Shield of the Trinity) window at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green (Diocese of Connecticut, The Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion)

ECP.Official

06/05/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY MAY 7, 2023
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:1)

Do we worry too much? As the crucifixion of Jesus drew ever nearer he began to prepare his disciples for the inevitable moment that he would no longer be with them in the same way as before and that they would need to carry on his mission without him. His most crucial message of assurance to them according to the apostle John was trusting in his divinity, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). Rather than being worried that there might be many paths to God and confused about which path to follow, we can feel confident and even empowered by trusting that, “… Jesus is the only perfect image of the Father, and shows us the nature of God” (ECP catechism: God the Son). Even more so when, “On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father” (The Nicene Creed), enabling Jesus to fulfill his assurance to his disciples and to all of us when he said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12). Let us therefore trust in him and not be filled with worry, whether about our future material needs nor the ridicule that may come our way for our willingness to believe, for as Jesus himself reminds us according to the apostle Matthew, “… can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” (Matthew 6:27). Instead let us enjoy moving towards the eternal life that Jesus opened for us by his resurrection, with the apostle John informing us that, “… this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Let us pray, “Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” (Collect for Fifth Sunday of Easter).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "The Risen Lord meets Mary Magdalene" stained glass window at The Stained Glass Museum, Ely Cathedral (Diocese of Ely, Church of England, Anglican Communion)

📷 Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

ECP.Official

29/04/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY APRIL 30, 2023
“I am the gate.” (John 10:9)

“Truth is one, paths are many”, attributed to Mahatma Gandhi who led a campaign of non-violent resistance against British rule in India and who emerged in his greatness while the world was engulfed in the unthinkable violence of World War II, has become a popular catchphrase within the interfaith movement. It seeks to present an ideal worldview that all religions in their great diversity are essentially the same, provide alternative paths to the same God, and therefore ensuring peaceful coexistence. But is this the same truth found in the Scriptures? Are there really many paths leading to the “kingdom of God” and “life in all its fullness”? (ECP catechism: The New Covenant). Although indeed we must strive for peaceful coexistence with others, including other religions, the principle of “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) that Jesus describes as one of the, “… two commandments [on which] hang all the Law and the Prophets” is already sufficient to achieve this desirable goal. This needs to be sufficient for the faithful follower of Jesus as our Lord and Saviour consistently expressed his own understanding that just as there is only one truth there is also only one path, that is through him alone, with the apostle John recalling Jesus saying without compromise, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Earlier John also recalls our Good Shepherd describing himself as the gate for his sheep expressing both assurance in faithfulness and a warning against following others saying, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:9-10). The apostle Matthew also recalls Jesus using the imagery of a gate and offering a warning, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:12-14). As we continue to pray for God’s kingdom to come while yearning for a better way of life for ourselves and for the world around us, may we always remember to place our ultimate trust in Jesus, “… the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father” (The Nicene Creed), and whenever we stray from the truth and on to other paths, do all that we can to turn back to him. Then as the apostle Peter did, let us all rejoice, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25). Let us pray, “O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” (Collect for Fourth Sunday of Easter).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "The Lord's My Shepherd" stained glass window by Mr. Christopher Rahere Webb (1886-1966) at St Albans Cathedral (Diocese of St. Albans, Church of England, Anglican Communion).

📷 Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

ECP.Official

15/04/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY APRIL 16, 2023
“… through believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

Belief is central to our Christian faith. Stated within the accounts of the many appearances of Jesus to his disciples following his resurrection, the apostle John makes clear that the very purpose for the writing of his gospel is to bring those who read it to belief: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). One of these signs that John included was a story of disbelief. During the first appearance of Jesus to his disciples one evening in a locked house where they were hiding in fear, one disciple was missing, Thomas. Jesus had come back for an important reason: To grant them peace and to prepare them for carrying on the mission by giving them the Holy Spirit. When the downhearted Thomas eventually turned up and they joyfully told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he responded with doubt saying, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). His disbelief lasted for a week until Jesus came back again just for him. Although Thomas recognised him and immediately believed, joyfully exclaiming, “My Lord and my God!”, Jesus responds with a sense of disappointment, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29). Nonetheless, Thomas was blessed by this dramatic encounter with the Risen Lord that renewed his faith and empowered him to become a great apostle and evangelist like the others, even travelling far beyond the Roman Empire with the Good News and reaching as far as India and possibly even China. In his first letter, the apostle Peter expressed the effect of his encounter with the Risen Lord as, “By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” and offered hopeful encouragement to those that believe their testimony that, “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). As Episcopalians we affirm that, “What Christians believe about Christ is found in the Scriptures and summed up in the creeds” (ECP catechism: The New Covenant). The Nicene Creed, “as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith” (Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral), calls us to believe that, “On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures” and that later, “he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” Indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, in whom we can confidently put our trust. As we come together to worship on this Second Sunday of Easter and partake of the Holy Eucharist, “… the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again” (ECP catechism: The Holy Eucharist), let us pray, “Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” (Collect for Second Sunday of Easter).

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "Jesus shows the disciples his wounds" by Mr. William Brassey Hole (1846-1917), Scottish Episcopal Church (Anglican Communion)

08/04/2023

MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY APRIL 9, 2023
“… they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” (John 20:9)

Do we appreciate the importance of the fulfillment of Scripture in the mission of Jesus? According to the apostle Mark, three days after the death of Jesus on the cross, “When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him” (Mark 16:1). It was then that they discovered the open tomb with Mary Magdalene in an emotional panic rushing to find the disciples to inform them that, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2). The same distrust expressed by the chief priests and the Pharisees towards the disciples themselves when they arranged for the sealing of the tomb and an armed guard at the entrance so that, “… the tomb be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead’, and the last deception would be worse than the first’” (Matthew 27:64). After the shock of the violent crucifixion of Jesus just days earlier, it seems that the chief priests and the Pharisees had over-estimated the faith of the disciples and were more conscious of the importance of the resurrection in the mission of Jesus than they were. Even after several of the disciples had witnessed the empty tomb, the thought that Jesus had been resurrected had not even entered their minds, with the apostle John recalling, “Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes” (John 20:8-10). In their grief and confusion, their belief at that moment was not in the resurrection, but just as Mary Magdalene had first assumed, that their beloved Master and Lord had not only been humiliated on the cross, but also humiliated in death, the victim of grave robbers. They had not yet grasped what had happened, that the great importance of Jesus’ suffering and death was that, “By his obedience, even to suffering and death, Jesus made the offering which we could not make; in him we are freed from the power of sin and reconciled to God” and that the significance of Jesus’ resurrection was that, “… Jesus overcame death and opened for us the way of eternal life” (ECP catechism: God the Son). Although during the chaos of the arrest and trial of Jesus, the disciples instinctively chose self-preservation and betrayed him, their love for him clearly remained. Unlike Jesus who understood the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament, well and focused on fulfilling its prophesies in the final years of his life to prove his identity as the Messiah, did the shaky faith of the disciples that led to panic and confusion among them, even their initial blindness to his fulfillment of the resurrection, arise from their lack of “… diligence in the study of the Holy Scriptures?” (ECP Book of Common Prayer: The Baptismal Covenant). As we joyfully proclaim a song of victory this Easter Day that, “The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. On this day the LORD has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Hosanna, LORD, hosanna! LORD, send us now success” (Psalm 118:22-24), may we all recommit ourselves to the regular study of the Holy Scriptures to deepen our understanding, strengthen our faith, and confidently proclaim the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Saviour.

Reflection by Deacon Daniel Woods, ECP Integrated Mission Office

Image: "Mary Magdalene meets the Risen Christ" stained glass window at St Mary's Church, Nottingham (Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, Church of England, Anglican Communion).

📷 Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.

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