When We Want You to Leave Us, Jesus--May 11, 2016

There are times when we seek you, Jesus, as our

refuge and shelter from the storm and rain;

but forgive us, Jesus, there are also times

when we want you to go away and leave us—

times when we are not ready to grow up into you,

you who are the head, from whom the whole

body promotes the body’s growth,

building itself up in love.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 99; 147:1-11; 9; 118

Isa. 4:2-6

Eph. 4:1-16

Matt. 8:28-34

       

Selected Verses

Ps. 9:10

And those who know your name put their trust in you,
          for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Isa. 4:5b-6

Indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy.  It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Eph. 4:15-16

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.

Matt. 8:34

Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.