A Poem a Sunday

Pentecost 5 – A

July 9, 2017

Matthew 11:16-30 - NRSV

16 “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we wailed, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”[a]

Woes to Unrepentant Cities

20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum,

will you be exalted to heaven?
    No, you will be brought down to Hades.

For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Jesus Thanks His Father

25 At that time Jesus said, “I thank[b] you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[c] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 11:19 Other ancient authorities read children

Matthew 11:25 Or praise

Matthew 11:26 Or for so it was well-pleasing in your sight

Stone Hearts

Dance or mourn

indifference is no option.

The Prophet gets ousted

whether fasting or glutton.

No parish

will stand with

a prophet.

No congregation

will break the bondage

of an institution.

Judgment upon

all comfortable pews

where Christ shared

his very body and blood.

Stone hearts hardened.

Prophets exiled.

Yet their voices

never silenced.

Luke-warm churches

with no mortgage

drawing inward

will succumb

to death’s spiral

never living

out the Christ

to be reborn.

Better off are Sodom and Gomorrah

wicked cities of renown.

Hearts of stone remain unbroken

when they control the holy ground.

Come to Christ all who are weary

of the Church’s unbroken hearts.

The Divine will now carry

those deep burdens of the dark.

God creates a faithful remnant

which risks all to be the Church.

Many called, but few are chosen.

Hearts broken open for new birth.

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