Earthly Things, Heavenly Things--Jan. 22, 2014

 We who are of the earth belong to the earth;

our thoughts are about earthly things.

We do not want you to see how naked we are,

but you are from above, and you see all.

You cover the heavens with clouds and prepare

rain for the earth, make grass grow on hills.

Make us like the earth that drinks up your rain,

that we may produce a crop useful to you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4

Gen. 9:18-29

Heb. 6:1-12

John 3:22-36

Selected Verses

Ps. 147:8

[God] covers the heavens with clouds,
          prepares rain for the earth,
          makes grass grow on the hills.

Gen. 9:23

Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.

Heb. 6:7

Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.

John 3:31a

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.