Anomalies--Aug. 27, 2019

[From Aug. 25, 2009 archive]

Things are seldom as they seem. 

Neighbor speaks peace with neighbor,

while in their hearts they plan mischief

against one another.

Solomon swears to honor

any request his mother might make,

but then flies into vengeful rage

when she expresses her request.

Paul is sent to Rome, though King Agrippa

judges him innocent.

We never know when the master of the house

will return; this should not make us paranoid,

but also neither smug nor complacent.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

1 Kings 1:32-2:46

Acts 26:24-27:8

Mark 13:28-37

Selected Verses

Ps. 28:3

Do not drag me away with the wicked,

            with those who are workers of evil,

who speak peace with their neighbors,

            while mischief is in their hearts.

1 Kings 2:20

Then [Bathsheba] said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.”  And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.”

Acts 26:32

Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”

Mark 13:35-37

“…Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.  And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”  [Jesus to Peter, James, John, and Andrew]