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Environmental
Stewardship Commission
(MEESC) |
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Episcopal Diocese of
Minnesota
Lectionary
Reflection
Year C, Proper 23,
All Readings
For the reading, click on the link,
below:
Ruth
1:(1-7) 8-19a
Psalm
113
2
Timothy 2:(3-7) 8-15
Luke
17:11-19
Reflection on Ruth
1:(1-7) 8-19a; Psalm 113; 2 Timothy 2:(3-7) 8-15; Luke
17:11-19
by the Rev Margaret W. Thomas
Walking in the pathway of faith and Gods grace filled presence
draws us continually. Sometimes we recognize the signs and the signals.
Sometimes we respond to people places, and events long before we
acknowledge our yearnings and our own promises. Sometimes we may
need a jolt or a reminder of our former recognitions and
responsibilities to be returned to the path and sometimes we find that
we have been on the path and just did not realize it for what it was.
Fall is a fine season for walks and hikes among the rustling leaves of
red and gold. We may scuff along with children or a dog and
delight in their play and discovery of fruits and nuts of harvest
time. We may also walk the seasonal paths of winter preparation
or we many walk the paths of new culture when we visit or greet
folks from afar. We may search new paths of spirituality when we
make a pilgrimage, or read a book or take a yoga exercise
class. Our entire pattern for daily life may change with
sudden illness, loss, impairment or death. All these changes
challenge us to move somehow. We may find the wellsprings of
faith and the future in the roots or the seeds that have already been
developing.
The book of Ruth carries both the roots and the seeds of Jesus family
history as a Hebrew. The daughter in law, Naomi, moves from
Bethlehem to Moab when married. Naomi then follows her mother in
law, Ruth, back to Bethlehem after the familys men all die.
Naomi adopts the Jewish faith of Ruth and bears a child who becomes an
ancestor of Jesus. The old roots were tapped and produced the
seeds of new faith for the women and for the future. Verse 8 of
Psalm echoes the story in recognizing the wonders of love, life and
God, While Sarahs story also carries the same joy, it fits here
too. He makes the woman of a childless house to be a joyful
mother of children.
Lukes gospel account of the healing of ten lepers and the
acknowledging thankful return of one Samaritan gives the clarity of
following a faithful Christian pathway. The other nine lepers
gleefully tear off for home. One returns to spend time with
Jesus. The Samaritan of different traditions and culture doubles
back, and receives a blessing besides a healing. The grateful
leper is transformed in faithful spirit as well as in body. The
writer of 2 Timothy, echoes the helaing attitude of the leper, being
able to endure everything for the sake of the gospel. The pathway has
been secured and enriched in both roots and in seeds.
The book, The Samurais Garden
by Gail Tsukiyama tells a story of Stephen, a young man suffering
from tuberculosis. His family is Chinese, and owns a summer home
on the sea in Japan. A resident gardener, Matsu, tends to
the sea side house and grounds. His garden work is a spiritual
discipline; and his entire life a spiritual pathway. Stephen is
sent to the family home to recover his health under the care of
Matsu. The time setting is when Japan is beginnng to prey upon
China in the fall of 1937. The family is also in stress with the
fathers travel and estrangement.
Stephen is physically weak and spiritually bereft. A pathway of
healing and transformation begins while Stephen works with Matsu in the
garden. There is more development as Stephen meets the people of
Matsus village and learns fo the ravages that leprosy had left them
two decades ago. Yet, all the time Stephen and Matsu begin a
relationship that will transcend the class and culture differences of
their lives and spirits.
The healing of leprosy in the ten lepers was complete. The
spiritual healing and cultural healing of the Samaritan was far more
transcending and enduring in a differenet level. The pathway with
Jesus still offers that transformation for us. We can work on roots and
seeds concurently. We need only take that path.
Amen.
To Reflections on other Readings for
this
Sunday:
| Old
Testament (Hebrew Scripture)
Ruth 1: (1-7)
8- 9a |
not available |
|
not available |
| New
Testament
2 Timothy 2 (:3-7)
8-15 |
not available |
not available |
The Rev
Margaret W. Thomas, is Priest-in-Charge at St. Edward the Confessor
Episcopal
Church, Duluth, MN. She originally wrote this reflection in 2004. Margaret and we welcome
your comments. Please address your comments or additional reflections
to The Rev
Margaret W. Thomas or any MEESC
member, or mail them to:
|
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MEESC
Holy Trinity Church
Box 65
Elk River, MN 55330-0065 USA |
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