With Stones We Bruise Ourselves--March 8, 2015

[From March 27, 2011 archive]

Night and day, body and soul, we bruise ourselves,

inflicting deadly wounds…inwardly, even outwardly,

howl in pain while we lament, “Where is our God?”

Why are we so cast down?  Why so disquieted?

Why so greedy for unjust gain as to deal falsely?

We forget that you are our help and our hope,

we forget that you have bought us with a price.

Help us put away the stones that pain and bruise,

and body and soul may we glorify and praise you.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32

Jer. 6:9-15

1 Cor. 6:12-20

Mark 5:1-20

Selected Verses

Ps. 42:10-11

As with a deadly wound in my body
            my adversaries taunt me,  
while they say to me continually,
            “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
            and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
            my help and my God.

Jer. 6:13

For from the least to the greatest of them,
            everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
            and from prophet to priest,
            everyone deals falsely.

1 Cor. 6:20

For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Mark 5:5

Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains [the demoniac] was always howling and bruising himself with stones.