How We Separate Ourselves from Christ--July 8, 2014

Woe to us,

for we defile the world in which we live,

the world in which Christ dwells as well.

The poor are despoiled, the needy groan,

and we tithe mint and dill and cummin,

neglecting justice and mercy and faith.

Though hardship, distress, persecution,

famine, nakedness, peril, and sword

will not separate us from his love,

if we separate ourselves from

those who suffer hardship,

distress, and persecution,

do we not separate

ourselves from

Christ?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7

Numb. 35:1-3, 9-15, 30-34

Rom. 8:31-39

Matt. 23:13-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 12:5

 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
          I will now rise up,” says the LORD;
          “I will place them in the safety for which they long.”

Numb. 35:34

You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites.  [The LORD to the Israelites, through Moses]

Rom. 8:35

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Matt. 23:23

"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.  …"  [Jesus]