Above: Elijah in the Wilderness, by Washington Allston
Image in the Public Domain
Signs
SEPTEMBER 22, 2024
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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Exodus 32:1-14 or 1 Kings 19:1-15
Psalm 59:1-5, 16-17
Hebrews 4:1-13
Mark 8:22-33
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Yahweh, God of Hosts, God of Israel!
Awake to punish all the nations,
show no mercy to wicked traitors.
–Psalm 59:6, Mitchell J. Dahood (1968)
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That attitude is consistent with God’s Plan A in Exodus 32, after the idolatry and apostasy at the base of the mountain. Aaron’s poor excuse still makes me laugh, though.
So I said to them, “Whoever has gold, take it off! They gave it to me and I hurled it into the fire and out came this calf!
–Exodus 32:24, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (1985)
Exodus and Mark contain stories of dramatic, powerful encounters with God. We read of visual and tactile experiences. We also read of short-lived faithfulness, of much grumbling, of obliviousness, of recognition followed by official denial, and of fidelity.
The juxtaposition of the formerly blind man (Mark 8:22-26) and the obliviousness of St. Simon Peter (Mark 8:32-33) highlights the spiritual blindness of the latter man. The stories also challenge us to ponder our spiritual blindness.
Even Elijah, who had recently confronted the prophets of Baal Peor then presided over their slaughter (1 Kings 18), had to deal with his spiritual blindness. While hiding from Queen Jezebel and feeling sorry for himself, he encountered God, who, in that context, revealed self not in dramatic ways (as Baal Peor would have done), but in a still, small voice, or, as The New Jerusalem Bible (1985) renders the text,
a light murmuring sound.
Do we fail to notice messages from God because we seek dramatic signs?
Sometimes, in the Gospels, one reads of Jesus performing a miracle, followed by people demanding a sigh. One’s jaw should drop. One should seek God for the correct reasons and not become attached to dramatic signs. God whispers sometimes. God whispers to us, to those similar to us, and to those quite different from us. God judges and forgives. Signs are abundant. How many do we notice?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JULY 25, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT JAMES BAR-ZEBEDEE, APOSTLE AND MARTYR
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2019/07/25/signs-part-ii/
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ORDINARY TIME DEVOTIONS 
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