Like Swallowing a Camel--Dec. 14, 2017

You have done great things for us, Lord God,

but we must listen to what the Spirit says to us.

For woe to us if we think we are your favorites--

that because of your love we are privileged

to neglect justice, mercy, and faith.

That would be swallowing

a camel.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 18:1-20; 147:12-20; 126: 62

Amos 9:1-10

Rev. 2:8-17

Matt. 23:13-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 126:2

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
          and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
          "The LORD has done great things for them." 

Amos 9:7

Are you not like the Ethiopians to me,

          O people of Israel? says the LORD.

Did I not bring you up from the land of Egypt,

          and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir?

Rev. 2:17

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Matt. 23:13-26

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.  It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.  You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!  …"  [Jesus to his accusers]

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