Proper 5 (10)
1 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24) or I Kings 17:17-24
Psalm 46 or Psalm
30
Galatians 1:11-24
Luke 7:11-17
Our gracious, eternal
God, we bow today having heard an event which creates for us a great
mystery. Our minds cannot get around what happened that day in Nain when
Jesus returned an only son to his mother. We can only bow and wonder about
this Jesus.
• We wonder about what kind of power he had.
• We
wonder about why he chose this particular woman among all others who needed
his attention.
• We wonder about the depth of his compassion for our
sorrows and how you must love us with a healing love.
• We wonder about
those carrying the boy who were stopped in their tracks when Jesus came
forward.
Our questioning minds can only wonder. They cannot get
around such a powerful happening. We can, however, thank you for the
compassion you have for all who bear grief. We can identify with this
sorrowing woman. We can also identify with the boy for we are in need
figuratively of arising from all that is dead in our lives.
• We
are in need of arising from the slumber of lethargy about our faith.
•
We are in need of arising from the slumber of insensitivity to human need
throughout the earth.
• We are in need of arising from the slumber of
prejudice, discrimination and racism which has so long infected our land.
• We are in need of arising from the slumber of failing to work for
peace.
• We are in need of arising from the slumber of sloth and
neglect of the great commission.
O God, help us to arise. Touch us
that we may arise to life. Amen
