This could be really exciting news – it’s only a mid-season replacement, but still it’s intriguing: a progressive Christian point of view might be shown on network television as an alternative to the somewhate more conservative depictions of faith that are typical of TV drama.

Those of us who attended the enjoyable Via Media sessions may recognize the location; I believe it’s the same church where they taped.

[Episcopal News Service] A new television drama featuring the struggles of an Episcopal priest with family, church politics and Jesus, his mentor and friend, and even his own nagging reliance on painkillers, is planned for the NBC 2005-2006 mid-season line-up.

“This challenging new series is our first announced drama for mid-season as we continue to seek different, out-of-the-box projects,” said Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, when announcing the new series.

” ‘The Book of Daniel’ is bold and surprising storytelling told by a great cast led by Aidan Quinn,” Reilly added.

The new series also offers the Episcopal Church a rare product placement opportunity at a time when TIVO devices make it possible to excise paid commercials from home viewing. In 2004, the value of television product placements (a product or brand name inserted for marketing purposes into entertainment fare) increased by 46.4 percent over the year before, to $1.88 billion, according to the research firm PQ Media.

A pilot episode for ‘The Book of Daniel’ was filmed at All Saints Church in Pasadena, where Quinn portrays Daniel, a young, liberal priest and father who clashes frequently with his conservative bishop, Dr. Beatrice Congreve, played by Ellen Burstyn.

The series, set in upstate New York, would also feature Quinn’s frequent conversations with Jesus, played by actor Garrett Dillahunt. Among his parishioners is long-time actress and comedienne Phyllis Diller.

The Rev. Susan Russell, an associate rector at the Pasadena parish, said the plot for the series is hopeful.

“It is one more indicator of how much issues of faith and religion are “in” right now,” said Russell, who is also national Integrity president.

“How cool is it that a progressive Episcopal priest has a shot at being a prime-time drama protagonist,” she added. “How surprising might it be to many who tune in to find out there actually IS a church where women can be bishops — clergy can be human — and there’s enough Good News around to extend to everybody?” — Episcopal News Service

I am just wondering a little about Phyllis Diller, but it could be interesting.

Isaiah 51:1-6
Psalm 138
Romans 11:33-36
Matthew 16:13-20

The Collect

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Old Testament

Isaiah 51:1-6
Thus says the Lord:
“Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the LORD.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.
For the LORD will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the LORD;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.”

The Psalm

Psalm 138 Page 793, BCP
Confitebor tibi

1
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; *
before the gods I will sing your praise.

2
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and praise your Name, *
because of your love and faithfulness;

3
For you have glorified your Name *
and your word above all things.

4
When I called, you answered me; *
you increased my strength within me.

5
All the kings of the earth will praise you, O LORD, *
when they have heard the words of your mouth.

6
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, *
that great is the glory of the LORD.

7
Though the LORD be high, he cares for the lowly; *
he perceives the haughty from afar.

8
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand shall save me.

9
The LORD will make good his purpose for me; *
O LORD, your love endures for ever;
do not abandon the works of your hands.

The Epistle

Romans 11:33-36
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

The Gospel

Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Isaiah 56:1(2-5)6-7
Psalm 67
Romans 11:13-15,29-32
Matthew 15:21-28

The Collect

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Old Testament

Isaiah 56:1(2-5)6-7
Thus says the LORD:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.
[Happy is the mortal who does this,
the one who holds it fast,
who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it,
and refrains from doing any evil.
Do not let the foreigner joined to the LORD say,
“The LORD will surely separate me from his people”;
and do not let the eunuch say,
“I am just a dry tree.”
For thus says the LORD:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
I will give, in my house and within my walls,
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off.]
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant–
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.

The Psalm

Psalm 67 Page 675, BCP
Deus misereatur

1
May God be merciful to us and bless us, *
show us the light of his countenance and come to us.

2
Let your ways be known upon earth, *
your saving health among all nations.

3
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

4
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide all the nations upon earth.

5
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

6
The earth has brought forth her increase; *
may God, our own God, give us his blessing.

7
May God give us his blessing, *
and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

The Epistle

Romans 11:13-15,29-32
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

The Gospel

Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Today’s readings seem to call us to reach out to people “not like us.” In the Old Testament lesson, God tells His people that even eunuchs and foreigners who kept His Sabbath and covenants will be in the house of the Lord, which will be a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus people who the ancient Hebrews would have scorned or avoided were welcomed by God in His House, so long as they were faithful.

In the Gospel lesson, even Jesus seems to want to turn away from the Canaanite woman, but is recalled by her strong faith. She believed that He would help her daughter, and so it was.

In our modern lives, we encounter many people who are not like us – they look different, they sound different, they lead different lifestyles, they might not have a home. When they encounter us, do they recognize Jesus in us in spite of ourselves, and recall us to service, or do they merely see… someone not like them, who might turn away from them?

Will you reach out, or turn away?