Stumbling Blocks--Feb. 12, 2019

You did not give us a spirit of cowardice, O God,

but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.

How dare we cause others to stumble,

or point a finger to shame them,

or fail to feed the hungry,

or to heal the afflicted?

Show us how to remove

the yokes our selfishness or

thoughtlessness or ill tempers

have inflicted on others,

that together we may

live in unity.

Then shall our light

rise in the darkness

and our gloom be

like the midday.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133

Isa. 58:1-12

2 Tim. 1:1-14

Mark 9:42-50

Selected Verses

Ps. 133:1

How very good and pleasant it is
          when kindred live together in unity! 

Isa. 58:9b-10

If you remove the yoke from among you,
          the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
          and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
          and your gloom be like the noonday. 

2 Tim. 1:7

…for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Mark 9:42

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]