This is part of a series of devotions based on the Daily Office, which is found in the Book of Common Prayer.
This morning’s Scriptures are:
Psalm 121, 122, 123; Exodus 5:1–6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20-40
(note that the lectionary excludes verses 34-38); Mark 9:42-50
This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 13 (BCP, p. 88); following theEpistle reading, Canticle 18 (Revelation 4:11; 5:9-10, 13, BCP, p. 94)
Meditating on 1 Corinthians 14: As important as worship is to Episcopalians, it’s curious that our daily lectionary includes the reading of some words on worship (tongues & prophecy) that we apply in a nuanced rather than a literalistic fashion, but then passes over other instructions on worship (women in worship) that we take in a similarly nuanced fashion.
So, we do read, “each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation…let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” We are expected, I suppose, to discern these words’ applicability to our worship despite the fact that our liturgy is not a study in spontaneity. In fact, whether our worship includes things like impromptu prophecy or not, or tongue-speaking or not, we can surely learn lessons from this passage about how true worship aims at building one another up rather than at putting our own spiritual prowess on display: “Let all things be done for building up” (14:26).
But the daily lectionary invites us to skip “women should be silent” (verses 34-38). Why? Because our tradition has decided these words may have been applicable to Corinth, but have nothing to say to us?
In fact, this teaching is important. Paul has already endorsed women speaking in church, when back in chapter 11 of this epistle, he urges women not to allow the piety of their public prophesying or praying to be undermined by impiety in their appearance (11:5-6). Here, in chapter 14, Paul is saying that when all the prophesying is over, he does not want the deliberation of the prophets (see the end of 14:32) to be interrupted by anyone (and specifically, in Corinth, some women) who interrupt the process by continuing to speak.
Just as uninterpreted tongues can be a cacophonous, perhaps even ego-inflating, hindrance to the edification of everybody, so can any speaking that is not (to use the language of v. 17) “in turn.” That’s why Paul concludes, “all things should be done decently and in order” (v. 40). As Solomon says, “A time for keeping silent, a time for speaking” (Ecclesiastes 3:7)—a time for prophesying, a time to refrain from prophesying.
Meanwhile … back in Egypt. The Israelites groan under the burden of having to make “more bricks with less straw” (Exodus 5). Today, that brings to mind the plight of countless doctors and nurses trying to care for COVID-19 patients with inadequate PPE (personal protection equipment), and too few beds and too few ventilators. May God soon strike down this plague, and in the meantime, may he provide “straw” for solid “bricks”: may he give guidance and strength and full resources to those now sewing masks, manufacturing ventilators, building temporary hospitals.
Collect for Peace (BCP, p. 99). O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be blessed this day.
Reggie Kidd+