Torn in Two, Top to Bottom--Sept. 7, 2019

[From Sept. 9, 2017 archive]

Compassionate and merciful One,

as the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so surround your people.  When Jesus died,

the curtain of the temple was torn in two,

from top to bottom.  After Solomon

died, the country was torn in two.

Countless times your church

has been torn into pieces.

Grant us patience with

one another, and

endurance.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 63; 149; 125; 90

1 Kings 12:1-20

James 5:7-20

Mark 15:33-39

Selected Verses

Ps. 125:2

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
          so the LORD surrounds his people,
          from this time on and forevermore. 

1 Kings 12:16

When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king,
     "What share do we have in David?
          We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
     To your tents, O Israel!
          Look now to your own house, O David."
So Israel went away to their tents. 

James 5:11

Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance.  You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Mark 15:37-38

Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.