This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news:

DAILY MAIL ATTACKS UK FOREIGN AID

“UK doles out more aid than any other country: Despite the savage cutbacks at home, we top world league in foreign aid”

Romans 14:13-23

13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another. 14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. 16So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval. 19Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification. 20Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat; 21it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. 22The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. 23But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

One of the minor issues affecting the gentile churches in Paul’s time was what could be eaten. Only a church where communal meals were still a feature of their life would have experienced this difficulty. There were two matters: 1. Jewish believers thought people should eat according to kosher rules; 2. Gentile believers were bold enough to eat food offered to idols, which offended others. Paul asks his people to see that nothing trivial should be allowed to get in the way of what is much more important, the communal life of the church. It is true, he says, that all foods are clean for Christians-anything may be eaten-but those who know this ought not to exercise a liberty that scandalises others. In all of this he shows his pastoral genius.

On vital matters of Christina liberty, such as circumcision, however, Paul is adamant that that the freedom of Christ should be exercised. Those who have fought for the inclusion of homosexual persons in the church and its ministry believe that this is a vital matter where offence must be risked but they will also take care that the many sincere people who will find the process difficult will not be needlessly offended by partisan words or actions.

 Luke 10:21-24

21 At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

23 Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’

Christian Aid photo of the Holy Spirit

Jesus is depicted as rejoicing in God’s gift of his divine life (the Holy Spirit) to ordinary people, through his beloved son. The teaching, healing, forgiveness, open friendship, solidarity with the poor, experienced by the disciples, are the manifestation of this life. The Holy Spirit is not some immaterial magic but precisely this communal life, which flows from the communion of father and son. Luke is always reminding his readers to keep their feet on the ground behind Jesus’ feet. The communal life of the Holy Spirit is meant for all people, so U.K. Christians must oppose the “Daily Mail” and all its selfish propaganda. Aid is just as holy as prayer.