Raphael

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

Syrian authorities assert power by child murder

Hebrews 5:7-14

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The strange logic of the Jesus tradition is evident here: Jesus prayed to God who was able to save him from death-yes we’ve read about the garden agony-and because of his submission, HE WAS HEARD! Ah, so that’s what being heard means, you die anyway…

But that’s just the point. Being son of God is all relationship, it’s not privilege. AND the nature of that relationship is -we don’t want to hear this-obedience. This writer does not think of obedience to God as demeaning or as opposed to love, but rather as an expression of love and the worth it confers. Of course my obedience to Jesus is imperfect but it expresses my love for him as the one who is also my high priest and has secured my forgiveness from God.

There may be a whole theology of Melchizedek lurking behind this letter but my guess is that the author found him in Scripture as one someone superior to Abraham, with a name which means King of Justice, and who therefore can stand as a prototype of Jesus.

Luke 9:37-50

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he* shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ 41Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ 42While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 44‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ 45But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. 47But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, 48and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’

Again today I’ve used Raphael’s great painting of the transfiguration of Jesus,  in which the painter shows the transforming light which envelops Jesus spilling down on to the epileptic boy in the lower part of the pictorial space, thus making clear the connection between the intimacy of Jesus- and- the- Father and the compassion of Jesus’ ministry. Luke continues to press home his teaching about the nature of Jesus’ status as son of God by following his demonstration of the greatness of God’s healing power with his statement about his own fate. The disciples are not ready for this and their childish squabble about greatness has to be answered by Jesus’ welcome to a child. Luke is saying that intimacy with God is sharing God’s compassion for people and involves suffering. This is not a teaching that I always welcome.

NOTE TO DEAR READERS: I’M TRAVELLING OVER THE NEXT TEN DAYS AND WILL TRY TO STAY WITH YOU, IF I GET ONLINE. PLEASE FORGIVE ANY GAPS!