June 24, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
Numbers 13:31-14:25
Romans 3:9-20
Matthew 19:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 138:6
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly;
but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Numbers 13:33
" ...There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."

Romans 3:9
What then? Are we [ Jews] any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin ...

Matthew 19:12
For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.

III. Meditation: Perceived from far away

What is it you dislike about the haughty?
With your knowledge and power,
wouldn't it be more natural to favor
the competent over the lowly?
Surely you don't want us so lacking in self-confidence
that we see ourselves grasshoppers confronted by giants.

But we miss the point:
you give us freedom,
a wide scope of freedom,
in the decisions we make
for the sake of your kingdom.
You invite us to accept what we can.

In our haughtiness we forget
that those who make choices
different from our own
may in your sight be choosing better.
What is more important, we forget
that all are under the power of sin.

We haughtily wear our blinders.
Oblivious to our sin, we also fail to see
how heavy weighs the judgment on us;
nor do we seek reprieve-
and thus do not encounter you
in your forgiving love.