Tuesday • 5/2/2023 •
Week of 4 Easter

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 45; Daniel 7:1–14; Colossians 1:15–23; Luke 6:12–26

This morning’s Canticles are: before the Psalm reading, Pascha Nostrum (“Christ Our Passover,” BCP, p. 83); following the OT reading, Canticle 13 (“A Song of Praise,” BCP, p. 90);following the Epistle reading, Canticle 18 (“A Song to the Lamb,” Revelation 4:11; 5:9–10, 13, BCP, p. 93)

Welcome to Daily Office Devotions, where every Monday through Friday we draw insights from that day’s Scripture readings, as given in the Book of Common Prayer. I’m Reggie Kidd, and I’m grateful to be with you. This is Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, and we are in Year 1 of the Daily Office Lectionary. “Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Daniel’s dream. At the beginning of the world, humans were supposed to exercise dominion over the beasts of the field, not vice versa. Even after the debacle in the Garden, Israel’s mission to the world was to preserve this memory: “What is man that you are mindful of him? … You crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, put all things at his feet” (Psalm 8:6b–7). Alas, as the writer to the Hebrews notes, this is not what we experience: “Yet at present we do not see ‘all things subject to him’” (Hebrews 2:8b). In Daniel chapter seven, Daniel dreams a dream that is terrifying because it is a dream of humans in subjection to beasts. Since the fall in the Garden, everything is upside down. 

Image: Daniel's vision of the four beasts from the sea and the Ancient of Days - Silos Apocalypse (1109)British Library , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Thus, Israel had been raised up to forecast the restoration of all things, and to point the way to the return to Eden. However, at the nadir of her own history, Israel has experienced humanity’s subjection to beast-like forces. Because of her sin and refusal to obey Yahweh, she has been subordinated to the lion (Babylon) and the bear (the Medo-Persians). Further bad news: worse is to come in the rule of the leopard (Greece) and a frightening beast (Rome—Daniel 7:4–7). 

Nonetheless, there is good news, too. Israel’s mission will not be finally aborted, for, by God’s grace, she will usher the world into an era in which humankind’s dominion will be restored. As the writer to the Hebrews puts it: “Yet at present we do not see ‘all things subject to him,’ but we do see Jesus ‘crowned with glory and honor’” (Hebrews 2:8). For, as Daniel’s dream goes on: One “like a son of man” appears in the heavenly courts to receive “dominion and glory and kingship” so that all peoples should give him honor. He will finally overthrow the beasts, and grant “possession of the kingdom” to his people (Daniel 7:22,27). 

In tomorrow’s Devotional we will explore the way the New Testament applies various images from Daniel’s dream of beasts to Jesus, the Son of Man, and to his mission to return humankind to the dominion for which we were created. 

Luke’s beatitudes. One of the most profitable ways to read Jesus’s beatitudes is as a template for what it means for us to be released from vices and patterns of life that diminish us by making us subject to the beasts of uncontrolled and unredeemed desires. 

Jesus came to deliver us from being owned and dominated by our possessions, so that we may find lasting wealth in him (Luke 6:20,24). 

Jesus came to deliver us from the oppression of our appetites, so that we may find satisfaction in him (Luke 6:21a,25a). 

Jesus came to deliver us from living for entertainment’s fleeting empty snicker, so that we may know communion’s eternally joyous roar (Luke 6:21b,25b). 

Jesus came to rescue us from the prison of needing others’ approval, so that we may know a fellowship that matters: that of the prophets, apostles, saints, and martyrs (Luke 6:22,26). 

A Prayer of Self-Dedication: Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Be blessed this day, 

Reggie Kidd+