Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Proper 21 (26) - Year B
Being led by a vocal minority, a rabble, the riff-raff, is nothing new. It happens with Talk Radio where there is only one right answer. It happens in dealing with biblical passages and literalists. It happened long ago with Moses.
Led by some, everyone chimed in accord or at least didn't object.
For the faithful Moses and any of us feeling trapped by the same systemic failure, railing against our plight is pretty normal. We feel pretty much alone.
One response is to gather like-minded folks together and experience again the presence of GOD in the midst of the gathered. This has so much going for it. Even those who ought to be at such a gathering and for whatever reason are not present also receive renewed energy to stand and prophesy for the larger way. El-dad and Me-dad and You-dad can work where we are because we know others are working elsewhere.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/september2003.html
We have, all of us, been sold. We have sold ourselves and those dear to us. Pottage is that cheap. We have sold the children into the hands of boredom and violence. Our willingness to sell is that great. We have sold our enemies to death and hurried them on their way that we might get our bargain.
In our buying and selling of self and others we lose track of where deeds of power reside - outside of market economies. When we see a deed of power beyond our control we get jealous and covetous. It is so easy to forget that whoever is not against us is for us and when a deed of power is accomplished, not mater to whom it is directed or through whom it comes, we are benefited.
- - - - - - -
anyone sick
anyone anyone
its time for a day off
we will wander
and it will save our soul
a multitude of sins
will be blessed
and grown from[With thanks to Ferris Buhller]