Above: Daniel Refusing the King’s Food
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection.
By the grace of Christ among us,
enable us to show the power of the resurrection in all that we say or do,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 32
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The Assigned Readings:
Daniel 1:1-21
Psalm 133
Acts 2:42-47
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Oh, how good and pleasant it is
when brethren live together in unity!
It is like fine oil upon the head
that runs down upon the beard,
Upon the beard of Aaron,
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
It is like the dew of Hermon
that falls upon the hills of Zion.
For there the LORD has ordained the blessing:
life for evermore.
–Psalm 133, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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Psalm 133, probably of Northern and pre-Exilic origin, sets the tone for this devotion. The brethren, whomever they are at a particular time and place, can live together in unity under a variety of circumstances. This unity depends on who they are, not where or when they are. This unity depends on common values, such as taking care of each other as effectively as possible and eating and drinking certain things but not others. In Daniel 1 the issue of dietary laws was one of identity, something which means more to members of minorities than to members of majorities, I suppose. In such a circumstance the unity of the brethren serves the purpose of preserving cherished traditions and the identity founded upon them. Likewise, in Acts 2, the nascent Church was a tiny Jewish sect, so members needed to take care of each other more than did those of the majority local culture.
Identities come in two varieties–positive and negative. The former affirms what one is first and foremost. The latter, however, denounces what is not first and foremost. A negative identity reacts against others and sometimes leads to hatred and violence based on those differences. An example of a negative identity in the Bible is identifying oneself as among the “pure,” unlike the great masses of “impure” Gentiles.
In Acts 2 and Daniel 1, however, we read of people with positive identities. They seek to remain true to themselves and God where they are. Their tactics build up, not tear down. Tribalism and self-righteousness do not rule; no, love does. Thus those with positive identity attract others to God.
May you, O reader, and I embrace and continue to hold fast to a positive identity in God and therefore glorify God and lead others to do the same.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B
THE FEAST OF MARIA STEWART, EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB, FOUNDER OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF SAINT OLYMPIAS, ORTHODOX DEACONESS
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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