Email from Church of the Redeemer

Morning Devotion for the Season of Epiphany

January 24, 2024

Invitatory

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Reading: from a sermon entitled “Growing in Truth” by Phillips Brooks

For I think that the first condition of any permanent hold on any truth is this, that the truth itself should be live enough and large enough to open constantly and bring to every new condition through which we pass some new experience of itself. The truth that is narrow and partial we outgrow; only the truth that is broad and complete grows up with us and can be kept.

Meditation - Winnie Smith

What is truth? This is the question Pilate utters in the midst of the trial against Jesus. Jesus who has described himself as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus who told his disciples, “if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32). What is this truth Jesus speaks of? What is truth?

Bishop Phillips Brooks was commemorated on the Episcopal calendar yesterday. He was considered by many to be the greatest American preacher of the 19th century. Ordained a priest in 1860, he was rector of Church of the Advent and then Church of the Holy Trinity, both in Philadelphia. In 1869 Brooks became rector of Trinity Church, Boston, where he served for over twenty years. Brooks was quoted as saying that he only ever sought to be a parish priest, but his preaching and thoughtful leadership garnered him national attention.

The above quote by Brooks is a portion of a sermon preached on a portion of Psalm 108. To suggest that truth can be large, rather than small, and complete rather than partial, is as relevant today as any time. As we look to our phones, computers, and televisions for the news - the supposed truth - it becomes increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction. So little can be relied on any more as absolute truth. Who tells the truth? How can we be sure that anyone is being honest at any one moment? As we approach the general election for president, does truth even hold a place in society and politics anymore?

Perhaps the only truth we can rely on is that we can never and will never know everything, and we will likely never get to a point of being able to fully believe what we hear on the news or from elected officials (imagine!) Real truth is an amazing thing: it cannot be contained; it is expansive. It will, as Brooks explains, grow and change with time. A kernel of truth becomes dynamic when put at play in the world and with other truths; they grow together, bringing more truth into existence. Doesn’t this make you hungry for some real truth?

What if, apart from our unknowing, we can also rely on the truth of love? Deep, abiding love. Love shown to us by God in his sacrifice of Jesus. Love like that cannot hide; it can’t crosstalk and double back on itself the way the most seasoned politicians can. It is honest - truthful. That is the love of God and from God we try to share every time we gather in worship. It is the foundation of our faith and our lives. To know God is to know love, and to know love is to know truth.

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.