Psalm 79:1-9

Proper 20 (25) - Year C


How is one to practice being shrewd in relationship to finally doing what is right—forgiving debts—if our only technique is to lean back and bay at G*D for help.

An on-going sense of impotence or dependence is not helpful to growing spirits. Even though this is probably part of a process of moving to independence and inter-dependence, it is a phase that is hopefully kept to a minimum. Yes there is value here, but not as much as comes afterward.

There simply comes a time when being rescued, only to repeat our problem because there has been no learning, needs to cease. This dynamic is usually present in multiple places within our life. These reinforce our reluctance to pull out of a dysfunctional system and call it to account. It is also the case that doing so in any one area of our life leads to the possibility of doing so in additional areas. These resistances can also build on one another. This is not a straight-forward proposition that automatically happens and so continual attention and choice is needed.

May you make one more shrewd choice this day, no matter the inconvenience to you or a whole system.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/09/psalm-791-9.html

 


 

Psalm 79:1-9 or Psalm 113

O G*D, surely we are not the worst. After all, you chose us. We're on your side. So we make a few errors -- you don't bench your star players or fine them for a few mistakes. If we weren't so tired from practice and got to play in more meaningful games, surely we would focus better. Perhaps this is a management issue, not a player one.

For the sake of a better master/servant relationship, we implore you to get mad at the real culprits - the press that magnifies our every flaw and those bums of fans who turn so quickly when championships are not automatically ours.

If only you'd get the right villains, and get them good, then we'd be better able to laud you to the heavens (at least three or four of them). Come on, G*D, you got the best seat in the universe, way up there somewhere, so use that privileged position to get a better perspective and you'll see we're not as bad as them.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/september2004.html

 


 

Psalm 79:1-9 or Psalm 113

Laments are such fun. They have a way of reminding us that our current mountain is nothing but a molehill and we might as give up lamenting. They can also plumb the depths of despair and still find G*D as ground under the deepest hole.

It is not so much each line here, but the general progression that is so helpful.

We move from an "ouch" to a "blame" to "plea" to "trusting praise". That's a lot of work to be done in nine short verses. Here attend to the flow rather than get hung up on a particular detail. This reflects well our roller-coaster ride through any disappointment or grief. Just slap your latest difficulty in here and see how it works.

= = = = = = =

we fight our enemies
that's just what we do
without a thought
we fight

sometimes we fight
with our enemies
against a larger enemy
threatening us both

were we both
to be in touch with our laments
we might find that commonality
long before we otherwise do

under all our differences
we are joined hip and thigh
by our lamentation
a real but far off hymn of new creation

let's not posture strength
but wail our deep woe
to connect below negotiation
all the way to soul

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

 


 

Even when comeuppance has arrived for dishonest wealth or dishonest spirituality, we are still trying to wheedle G*D to be on our side and to return us to our most dishonest time when we had the most wealth or the most comfort in ignoring one another.

Bottom line here is, "Sic 'em God!"

Beneath the bottom line is, "Forgive us so we can get back to our dishonesty."

The pericopes this week have been tough for folks to hear, even folks who are diligent is opening themselves to an examen.

Can you be honest about dishonest wealth in your congregation without it leading to a drop in financial giving? Can your fellowship address dishonest spirituality and keep everyone participating? Odds are, if you are not a leader, your talk about these matters will find you ignored or asked to leave. If you are a leader, confronting dishonesty will bring about less followers and less money. Is getting back to being honest in church too difficult for the moment? When will it get any better? Is it worth doing anyway?

Examen your self. Examen one another. Rejoice when you have come through. Change when you have been caught out.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/09/pentecost-17-year-c-psalm-791-9-even.html