To Be Wise in Christ--March 10, 2019

To my shame, dear God,

when I pride myself on my wisdom,

you show me I am foolish as a mule.

Boasting prevents me from staying

close to you.

Grant me enough wisdom

to know: you are my God;

you act with steadfast love,

justice, and righteousness;

and that you gave us Jesus

to be our wisdom, strength,

and riches.

I am an old wineskin,

but renew me to receive

the fresh wine of Christ,

I pray you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32

Jer. 9:23-24

1 Cor. 1:18-31

Mark 2:18-22

Selected Verses

Ps. 32:9

Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
          whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
          else it will not stay near you.

Jer. 9:23-24

Thus says the LORD: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD.

1 Cor. 1:27-28

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are…

Mark 2:22

"…And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."  [Jesus, to those who asked why his disciples did not fast]