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Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
William White, Bishop of Pennsylvania, 1836
Reading: Matthew 25:31-40
‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.”
Meditation – Jeremy O’Neill
Today The Episcopal Church remembers The Rt. Rev. William White, our first Presiding Bishop and a historic Episcopal figure with local significance. A lifelong Philadelphian, White also served as the first Bishop of Pennsylvania and was instrumental in establishing the current model of national church governance we have through General Convention. One of White’s significant contributions was the establishment of the House of Deputies, which gave lay people a significant role in church governance that had previously been reserved exclusively for bishops and other clergy.
This method of church governance aims to allow for a wider variety of voices and perspectives to be heard, and seeks to promote peace and stability across disagreement, something Anglicans love to talk about. However, while we can pride ourselves on being a place of communion across difference, are there issues or topics about which we must put our foot down and state what we know to be true and right?
In many ways, I think the scripture passage this morning challenges some of our prioritization of unity and calls us to reexamine what we know to be true and good, or at least think about what might be, for God, a “dealbreaker.” The scripture tells of a great divine judgement where the righteous are divided from the unrighteous. It can be difficult to read such a divisive passage at a time where division is at the forefront of our minds, but I think that it becomes clear that if there is one thing that we shouldn’t disagree on, it is kindness.
The gospel tells us, in no uncertain terms, that it is our imperative to practice radical kindness. Those who shut out their neighbor are judged negatively by God. Those who extend hospitality and generosity even to those they do not know are honored. There isn’t much room for nuance or disagreement or discussion in this Gospel; there are the righteous and there are the unrighteous.
I pray that we can read a passage like this as a reminder to examine our priorities. Kindness and generosity are essential if we are going to form loving, healthy, Christian community. Hatred and greed have no place in the kingdom of heaven, even if we normalize them on earth.
Evil is a real problem today and always. The good news is we believe in a God who is willing to be the final judge between the two. The least we can do is advocate for the good and extend hospitality and kindness in our hearts, for when we welcome the stranger, we are welcoming a God into our hearts who will always point us in the direction of righteousness. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of William White:
O Lord, who in a time of turmoil and confusion raised up your servant William White to lead your church into ways of stability and peace; Hear our prayer, and give us wise and faithful leaders, that, through their ministry, your people may be blessed and your will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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