"Creation flavored" thoughts on the lectionary texts
Date: November 8, 2009
(note corresponding EarthWords from 3 years ago archived on the website)
Text: Psalm 42 As the hart....
Thoughts
"As the hart longs for the flowing stream, so longs my soul for thee, O Lord". Isn't that just one of the loveliest
lines in scripture, or anywhere else, for that matter. The "sound connection" between "hart" and "heart", the peaceful
yet lively image (and "sound image") of the flowing stream, the sense of longing for what is not - "not yet"? If you
could live in a house with a stream flowing through it, would you? I would - even if it meant having a stepping stone
between the living room and the kitchen!
Deep calls to deep - something deep in the ocean calling out to something deep in us - "Hey, stop dumping all this trash
down here!" Something deep in Creation calling us to find our place. "A Close Encounter of the Eco Kind"?
Lake Superior waves and billows were splashing over the breakwater and the rocky outcroppings (Picnic Rocks for
those of you familiar with the Marquette shoreline!) the other day. The power of the waves is amazing, as is the enduring
strength of the rock.
Text: Ruth 3.1-5, 4.13-17 Ruth and Boaz
Thoughts
I love this, too - "Boaz and the maidens winnowing barley" - it just sounds like a natural, wonderful, festive event.
Not at all like going to SuperOne or Econofoods (or even Babycakes or Marquette Baking Co or the Huron Mountain Bread
Co) for a loaf of cracked wheat!
(And along that line, how about this latest recall of ground beef - 546,000 pounds! That's 273 tons!
And how many animals slaughtered gratuitously? Is the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills looking favorably
on us after this?)
But back to Ruth and Boaz, and "uncover his feet and lie down"! Sure, there's all kinds of sexual overtone and
innuendo, but if you will go down to the threshing floor by the light of last night's full moon, what do you expect?
In reality, the creation of human beings is such a natural, wonderful, festive activity, it seems to fit right in.
And Ruth bears a son - into the nurturing, caring circle of Naomi and the neighborhood women.
Text: Mark 12.38-44 A widow's wisdom
Thoughts
"Beware of those who devour widow's houses" - and turn them into commercial enterprises! Those widow's
belong in caring neighborhoods.
The poor widow put in all she had. What do you suppose led her to do that? Desperation? Hopeless
despair? A simple faith? A trust in Creation? A strong caring circle of friends and neighbors? What
would give you the strength to shape your life for the good of Creation and not just your own desires? And would that
life then be something less than or more than what you might otherwise be?
Prayer
Wonderfully Eternal and Caring God,
your Creation calls to something deep within our hearts
and evokes a longing to find our rightful place,
participating in the wonderful and festive events of creation,
nurtured and held securely in a neighborhood circle of care.
Give us "widow's wisdom" to trust Creation for each new day
and to allow our lives to grow into their fullest potential.
One Thing to Do This Week
Well I'm betting that most of us don't really have the opportunity to get involved with threshing the barley! You
might try making a loaf of bread, or stopping at the farmer's market, or having a meatless day out of respect for all the
animals who gave their bodies to the ground beef recall.
