Morning Devotion for the Season of Eastertide
Friday, May 13, 2022
The Invitatory
Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia."
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end.
Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's Name be praised.
Reading: Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near’, and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.’
Meditation – Michael Palmisano
It was my custom, for a time, that whenever I ventured out of my office – particularly into the city of Philadelphia – I carried in my jacket several copies of Project HOME’s “Where to Turn Guide.” This is a condensed list of support services and contact information provided for individuals in the city of Philadelphia experiencing homelessness – meals, lodging, healthcare, recovery, benefits, mental health services, youth services, legal services, and the list goes on. It is a great resource compiled and vetted by one of the leading organizations in the nation that seeks to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.
I recall one day, as I was about to get back onto the 276-W ramp in Philly and head back towards Bryn Mawr, I encountered a man with a cardboard sign walking the rows of stopped traffic. As is my habit in these instances, I rolled down my window, introduced myself, asked for his name, asked if he would like a snack (anyone who knows me well knows I’m always carrying snacks), and offered him one of my Project HOME brochures. He accepted both and I drove off. As I was only a few meters away, window still down, in my rear-view mirror I saw him look at the brochure, curse, and launch it towards the ground. Unknown to me, I had extended an offense towards this man in some way or another.
Who knows, maybe this man was already quite familiar with Project HOME (there’s actually a very good possibility of this). Maybe he held deep-seated fears, resentments, or skepticism towards social service institutions. Maybe he was offended that I – a complete stranger – would presume to know what might “help” him. Maybe I’m still doing the same as I reflect upon this incident today. Regardless, I can be pretty sure that there was a breakdown in recognition, communication, and understanding between the two of us. I would certainly not be first nor the last perpetrator of such an offense.
These words from Deuteronomy are quite powerful. At quick glance, they seem to demand an absolute ethic of charity towards all. This text – referenced by Jesus in the gospels – is that which provides us with the unsettling message that “…there will never cease to be some in need on the earth…” This is a line worthy of all sorts of circular discussions, arguments, planning, and rationalizations that I could not begin to scratch the surface of today. Regardless, in this passage we must come to terms with what it means to “…open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.”
Our service towards others always risks becoming enabled by feelings of self-righteousness and notions that we know what is best for them. However, we ought to be dreadfully careful about the Deuteronomic imperative that we must be prepared to meet the needs of others, “whatever [they] may be.” Herein lies the ambiguity and our cue. Our “giving” must not spring from a place of uniformity and presumption. We can only begin to meet the needs of another when we see them, listen to them, and give not only what is needed, but what is desired. To give in this way, is to give the time and space for a person to emerge as autonomous, self-directed, and fully human. Give of yourself in this mode of attention and see what God is accomplishing between you and perceive how God is attending to the needs of us all.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
