Jeremiah 11:18-20
Proper 20 (25) - Year B
Jeremiah 11:18-20 or Wisdom of Solomon 1:16 - 2:1, 12-22
Let us test what will happen at the end of his life. Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls, nor understood that by our tests are we, in turn, tested. [Wisdom 2:17, 21-22, 17 enhanced]
Let me see your retribution upon them. Thus we reasoned, but we were led astray, for our wickedness blinded us, and we did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls, nor understood that our desire for retribution is, in turn, paid back. [Jeremiah 11:20b, Wisdom 2:21-22, Jeremiah 20b enhanced]
In the midst of the storms of life that come our way or are caused by us, there are choices to be made. May you live in the "hope of holiness" more than turning tests into retributions.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/september2003.html
Jeremiah 11:18-20 or Psalm 1 or Psalm 54
Proverbs 31:10-31 or Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37
A gentleness born of wisdom beckons us closer and closer that, with its small hands, our large desires might be unbuttoned and left to drop as a marker of a holy place - a burden was dropped here.
Those places where many burdens drop become our cathedrals, temples, churches in wildwoods, thin places. They are rightly revered. But no more so than where a single burden was laid to rest. Even as disciples have argued as to who was the greatest, so we struggle within and between various spiritual traditions as to loci of holiness.
Wisdom gentles us to appreciate the smallest of new beginnings as equal with the largest of sacraments. This goes beyond issues of right and wrong to a center-spot welcoming. Whether forgiven much or little we honor each forgiveness, each release.
- - -
flames signify
a release
a solid lets go
a puff of gas
upon an airy eddy
adds to an unpredictable
rising up
wavering light
strong enough
to attract moths
and hold bears at bay
we add our bodies
to the kindling
of a funeral pyre
honoring a past
past its time
in anticipation
of a new phoenix
for its moment
strong enough
to call us back
and send us forth