Have You Rejected Us, O God?--Sept. 28, 2014

When Jesus asked his disciples whether they had

understood his parables about the kingdom of heaven,

they answered "yes," but by their later actions they had not.

Neither do I--or perhaps I do not want to admit that I do.

I do not want to understand that you do not go out

with our armies; that you will not save us

by war or with weapons of war.

I do not want to hear we must not curse or kill

any of those who are made in your image,

even if they are our sworn enemies

and want to exterminate us.

Have you rejected our

warring ways,

O God?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23

Hosea 1:1-2:1

James 3:1-13

Matt. 13:44-52

Selected Verses

Ps. 108:11

 Have you not rejected us, O God?
          You do not go out, O God, with our armies. 

Hosea 1:7

"…But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen."  [The word of the LORD to Hosea]

James 3:9

With [the tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 

Matt. 13:51

[Jesus asked his disciples,] "Have you understood all this?"  They answered, "Yes."