Lament

   

1Then Job answered: 2"Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. 3Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! 4I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. 6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. 7There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

8"If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; 9on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; 17If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

Job 23:1-9, 16-17

 

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Angel of Truth Giving Freedom and Liberty to the Slave

GUÉRIN, Jules Vallée

mural

1922

Lincoln Memorial

Washington, DC

United States

 

Notes:

The decoration above the Gettysburg address in the central group typifies Freedom and Liberty. The Angel of Truth is giving Freedom and Liberty to the slave. The shackles of bondage are falling from the arms and feet. They are guarded by two sibyls. The group to the left represents Justice and Law. The central figure in the Chair of Law has the Sword of Justice in one hand; with the other she holds the Scroll of the Law. Seated at her feet are two sibyls who are interpreting the Law. The standing figures on each side are the Guardians of the Law, holding the torches of intelligence. The group to the right represents Immortality. The central figure is being crowned with the laurel wreath of Immortality. The standing figures are Faith, Hope, and Charity. On either side are the vessels of wine and oil, the symbols of Everlasting Life. [from Flickr] 

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20211009660245030&code=act&RC=55684&Row=32

 

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Central group

 

 

 

 

 

 

To lament means to express sorrow or regret.

Lamenting something horrific that has taken place

allows a deep connection to form between

the person lamenting and the harm that was done,

and that emotional connection is the first step

in creating a pathway for healing and hope.

We have to sit in the sorrow,

avoid trying to fix it right away,

avoid our attempts to make it all okay.

~ LaTasha Morrison

 

 

 

Prayerful lament is better than silence.

However, I’ve found that many people are afraid of lament.

They find it too honest, too open, or too risky.

But there’s something far worse:

silent despair.

~ Mark Vroegop

 

 

 

 

 

World Communion Sunday

Church of the Hills Evergreen

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Chew and Chat

Pizza Pasta Villa

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Karla Byrd, Sondra Kellogg

 

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Carolyn Alexander, Marilee Ross

 

Rocky Mountain Literary Festival

Mount Vernon Canyon Club

Saturday, October 12, 2024

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Melissa Payne, Festival Host and author

 

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Heather Webb - author

 

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Erica Robuck, author

 

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Kate Manning, author

 

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Steve Physioc, author

 

 

 

 

 

You cannot reap what you have not sown.

How are we going to reap love in our community, 

if we only sow hate?

~ Oscar Romero*

 

 

 

October 13, 2024  Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 23B]

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

* Oscar Romero

1917~1980

Óscar Romero y Galdámez

Archbishop of San Salvador

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Motto:

Sentire cum Ecclesia 

(Feel with the Church)

Óscar Romero y Galdámez's signature

 

17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" 20He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

28Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, 30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions — and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Mark 10:17-31

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

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Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

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Job’s Lament

 

 

 

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http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/2341.html

 

 

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LECTIONARY

Job 23:1–9; 16–17 

Psalm 22:1–15 

Hebrews 4:12–16 

Mark 10:17–31

 

SUMMARY

https://www.preachingtoday.com/lectionary/

 

THE WORD:

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#oct13

 

 

 

First Reading Job 23:1-9, 16-17

1Then Job answered: 2"Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. 3Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! 4I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. 7There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

8"If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; 9on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; 17If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

Psalm 22:1-15

1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;

and by night, but find no rest.

3Yet you are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4In you our ancestors trusted;

they trusted, and you delivered them.

5To you they cried, and were saved;

in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

6But I am a worm, and not human;

scorned by others, and despised by the people.

7All who see me mock at me;

they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;

8"Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver —

let him rescue the one in whom he delights!"

9Yet it was you who took me from the womb;

you kept me safe on my mother's breast.

10On you I was cast from my birth,

and since my mother bore me you have been my God.

11Do not be far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

12Many bulls encircle me,

strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

13they open wide their mouths at me,

like a ravening and roaring lion.

14I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like wax;

it is melted within my breast;

15my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to my jaws;

you lay me in the dust of death.

Second Reading Hebrews 4:12-16

12Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

14Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Gospel Mark 10:17-31

17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" 20He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible."

28Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, 30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions — and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."