Prepare

I also withheld the rain from you

….yet you did not return to me

I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards;

….yet you did not return to me

I killed your young men with the sword

…yet you did not return to me,

Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel;

because I will do this to you,

prepare to meet your God, O Israel!

(Amos 4:7-9;12)

From today's lectionary

Prepare to meet your God!

Can we hear the choirs as the shepherds?

Can we see the light of the stars as the astrologers?

Can we wait as Simeon and Anna in the Temple?

May this be the theme of your Christmas -

Prepare to meet your God!

And no one dared disturb the sound of silence

A king is not saved by his great army; (Psalm 33:16)

[So,] do not put your trust in princes, (Psalm 146:3)

They do not know how to do right, says the LORD,

those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.

(Amos 3:10)

The children crying out in the temple,

"Hosanna to the Son of David,"

the scribes became angry and said to him,

"Do you hear what these are saying?"

Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read,

'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies

you have prepared praise for yourself'?" (Matthew 21:15b-16)

From today's lectionary reading

God tells the world:

Force can not save.

Politics can not redeem.

Nor corruption or evil.

But the world tries to hush,

(and wants to crush)

the little children singing, “Hosanna!”

to the One

that is to overcome.

What a Wonderful World

(Genesis 1)

The noise of the animals is a low roar.

The waves continually kissing the shore.

The breezes making the trees dance.

The humans are inventing romance.

There’s no such thing as zombies.

Creation is a just a big ole party.

The light of the stars are set on low.

The night creatures come late to the show.

The birds are singing with Eve.

God looks at all He achieved.

That’s the first Saturday night story.

Creation is a just a big ole party.