The Basics

Nearly everyone has experienced the need to remind oneself or others about the basic essentials on a topic. Fr. Bates recently reminded us from the pulpit that Coach Vince Lombardi of NFL fame began his season with his players on their initial practice by physically holding up a football, and saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Going with that, it is almost proverbial in a group to say to each other, “Let’s get back to basics!” or “We need to review blocking and tackling.”

In the faith, we do this too. I looked over the lessons for next Sunday, with the hope of writing a bit about them each day this week. I wanted to supply here a general preview of what we can anticipate scripturally in the Eucharist next Sunday. I mean to assert throughout this week, based on our lections for Sunday, it is basic for us to beg the help of God. We have an ongoing need for God, and we learn God is loving and responsive in helping us.

The Collect of the Day, the little prayer that comes very near the beginning of our worship, gives a very rudimentary lesson. It is a request to God to increase a special tripartite gift so we can come to love God’s expectations of us and obtain what God promises. The triple gift is based on St. Paul’s conclusion of what we call the “love chapter”, 1 Corinthians 13. Paul has been describing the primacy of the higher spiritual gifts, principally that of charity or love. He concludes with this reflection: “And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, KJV) From another translation, (J. B. Phillips) we read, “In this life, we have three lasting qualities—faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of them is love.” Now read the Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It is our way of saying, “We need to love what you love, God, because we certainly desire what you are promising us. Help us, Lord! We won’t get there unless you fill us generously with faith, hope, and love.” See, how honest and humble these little prayers are. I sense each of the Bible readings point to the basic need of God and prayers for divine help. It is one of the shortest and most prevalent prayers, “Help!” Look at these little excerpts from the Sunday readings:

Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
“Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.”  (Jeremiah 31:7)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
   and delivered me out of all my terror.
I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
   and saved me from all my troubles. (Psalm 34:4, 6)

Jesus holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25-25)

Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:46-48)

I think it is an important lesson to us to reflect deeply on the foundational reality that we are in need, and we cry out to God. The Eternal One, who loves us, comes to our aid. Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, Son of David insistently. He wanted help. You can call out to God, and you will be heard. Think of Jesus saying to you, as he did to the request of Bartimaeus, “Go; your faith has made you well.”