Saints-You Saint-Me

Last Sunday’s epistle lesson is still rattling around in my head.
That’s not a bad thing. In fact it’s quite good to have a passage keep working within me. That, for me, is a sign that I am encountering the Logos, the WORD, and being ever so softly and gently prodded to take note of the message for the world today.

The lesson from Romans 12:9-21,(Found here) was used at our Eucharist Service at Bloy House on Saturday as well as at the principle worship services Sunday.

I was the lay reader for the lesson on Saturday, but was not fully prepared for the day’s assignment. Small communication issues, and only cursory reading of the text on Saturday, along with the reality that as a reader, one is more concerned with performance, articulation and pronunciation, than comprehension and engagement of the text itself meant that the Word was not yet fully heard by my own ears or received in my heart.

Sunday morning, however, it was an entirely different matter. Now, seated in the chancel during our early service, I was fully present to the word. I was one with ears and ready to hear to the word of the Lord.

In hearing the text read by another voice, one phrase jumped out at me.

“Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”

I was grabbed by the Holy Spirit to hear, and remember the original context.

The saints the Apostle Paul was referring to weren’t those dead and gone to glory saints we think of. NO, not those!

The saints were the faithful. They were the followers of the way. Those servants of God that shared Eucharist week by week, or perhaps even some shared it day by day. The saints were those who labored for the master to increase the harvest of souls for the kingdom of God on earth.

This is an experience of Lectio Divina. Encountering the living Word, through the hearing of the reading of the text. Lectio Divina works to shift our attentions and senses. It works by forcing us not to rely on our eyes and to allow the ears to work to engage the Holy. It wasn’t a casual statement that Jesus would make as he gave instruction; “Let those who have ears, listen.”

But I digress, a bit.

Back to the great aha for me.

I was remembering a brief encounter with the Editor of St. Timothy’s Newsletter. She commented on the article (posted below) submitted for September’s issue that explained my process toward ordination. Her word was to say, there was no “shameless begging” in writing the reality of costs and need for support. It was important for the members to understand the breadth and depth of commitment and resources required in order to raise up the ordained ministers needed for God’s work on earth. At the time I nodded in agreement, but maybe not fully believing, on a personal level that I should expect that support.

Now, I hear the letter to the saints in Rome, and by extension to all of us in the present age and realize, I am a saint deserving support.

For years I have spoken on behalf of the saints in service to missions abroad asking for support.

I have asked for contributions to build homes with people who desire a simple decent place to live.

I asked for money to help bring immediate comfort in times of disasters, and for funds to rebuild after devastations from fire, floods, tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

I asked for food contributions to aid seniors, homeless and unemployed.

I reminded people that the children of the world need full bellies in order to learn about the love of God and to grow in wisdom and knowledge to become self-sufficient.

I have pleaded for the widows and orphans, and along with my small financial resources encouraged others to support the work of the church around the world.

I could list on and on the causes I have asked for support for, and missioners I have encouraged through the support of congregations. Suffice it to say that it has always been for someone else, some other saints, that I have made the case, not for my own benefit.

Never once did I do so, with the expectation that at some point I too would become the object of a plea for support, thus acting in some sort of proactive quid pro quo manner.

But, in hearing the text this past Sunday, the Word reminded me that I am a saint, faithful in following the commands and invitations of Christ. I am also worthy of the support that the saints, the faithful of God, (that would be you, the reader) can offer to bring glory to God in our shared ministry. I also must state my needs as so many have before, making my needs known.

In fact, it seems that the lesson Tim and I are being urged by the Holy Spirit to learn is one about interdependence. It seems pretty clear that relying solely upon our own resources is not part of God’s design. Independence is a mirage. Learning to find support through the community has been part of the model for the followers of the way since the beginning of the Way, at least that is the model found in the Book of Acts.

We need prayer support. We desire an opening of the way that he would once again see success in his work. I require your prayers for energy and focus to complete the course of study that is laid out before me. We desire to be faithful in following the call that has been placed upon us as a couple to be servants in ministry with a congregation and within a community.

“DO not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.”