Sour grapes – that’s our phrase. “It’s just sour grapes.” We use it to disguise injustice. We use it to to discredit injury. We use it to avoid accountability. “It’s just sour grapes,” and therefore we bear no responsibility.
For Jeremiah and Ezekiel, however, sour grapes were something that passed on, with parents’ sour sufferings experienced by children. “As I live,” said God, “this proverb shall no more be used.” That’s true – but the proverb’s truth remains.
The child of the refugee is hungry. The child of the battered woman cries. The child of the homeless has no home. The child of the oppressed is marked. The child of the person of color wonders when their life will matter.
Will we blame you, O God, that we reject the refugee, that we refuse the see the signs of the abuse, that we permit a child to be homeless, that we accept oppression and we give excuses to this violence?
Of course we will.
And you will say, to quote Ezekiel, who wrote from exile in the shadow of the walls of Babylon, who knew disaster from the inside and from out: “Repent and turn from your transgressions, or iniquity will be your ruin.”
And so it is.
A poem/prayer based on Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32, the Revised Common Lectionary Alternate Reading for Year A, Proper 21 (26).
When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received [a denarius] the usual daily wage. – Matthew 20:9
“I got a rock.” – Charlie Brown in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Nobody hired us. You could say I didn’t try. At least, I didn’t try the ones with work. I promise you I tried the ones that didn’t, at least the ones who said they didn’t.
Another day of working to find work; another day of working without pay; another day of wondering just how the evening’s meal will come together.
“Why are you standing here so idle all the day?” “I’ve chased the ones who will not hire from this end of the marketplace to that. So now, I stand, because there is no hope for work.”
Or is there?
Now that was just an hour ago. I worked to pull the weeds and stake the vines, but to be honest, darkness came too soon to make much impact on this vineyard.
Darkness came too soon to make much impact on the emptiness of my larder. Darkness came too soon for work to be rewarded with enough to keep our lives.
But look: there in my hand. The owner of the vineyard has presented me with a denarius, a coin whose worth will keep us fed today, perhaps tomorrow.
I run back to the marketplace for oil and flour, beans and dates. My family will not believe the owner’s generosity – I hardly do!
Behind me I hear quarrelling. I pay no mind if others’ eyes are evil. My family will eat tonight because someone was good.
I usually imagine Jesus’ parable from the perspective of the all-day workers, the ones “who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” For this poem/prayer, I thought I’d choose another point of view.
A poem/prayer based on Matthew 20:1-16, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year A, Proper 20 (25).
“…and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.” – Exodus 14:30b
“Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.'” – Exodus 15:20-21
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
I can’t imagine where they found the energy to sing, to sound the tambourine, to dance. My feet are lead; they sink into the marshy mud that runs along the reedy shore.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
We were not last in line, but close enough to feel as if we were the least in all of Israel. No doubt the chariots and archers were not close enough, but we could feel their breaths upon our necks.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
I ran, we ran, we galloped through the slime and muck and knew – and knew – we were too slow. We were too late. We were too weak. We knew – we knew – that swords and chains and whips would be our lot.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
Then suddenly we climbed the bank, the shore had made its way to us, it seemed, lest we expire before our limbs had carried us to it. And still we heard the cries of the Egyptians.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
With trembling I reversed my gaze to see the sword that shortly would relieve my life, and saw the waters closing, heard the malice of Egyptian voices carried off by wails of fear.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
And now… I cannot summon up the strength to sing, or dance, or beat the tambourine. When breath returns, perhaps I will be strong to sing a song of thanks that now I do breathe free.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
The churning waters have devoured the Egyptians. The shores are strewn with all the corpses of the drowned. One gazes up at me with vacant eyes, no more surprised than I to see I live and he has died.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
So when I sing, dear Lord, in celebration of this gift may I remember to regret the slain. Though ill was their intent, and evil was their goal, they, too, could claim the title of your children.
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea.
Oh, will a sunrise ever come, O God, that sees the power-filled renouncing their prerogatives? When slavery in all its forms is done? When death no longer rules? When no one casts their eyes on corpses,
Gasping, panting, wheezing on the edge of the sea?
A poem/prayer based on Exodus 14:19-31 and Exodus 15:1b-11, the Revised Common Lectionary First Reading and alternate Psalm Reading for Year A, Proper 19 (24).
It sounds so… easy… Jesus. Like when those friends of mine cajoled their mother into asking you – the gall! – to ask you if her sons could sit at either side of you upon your throne.
Oh, yeah. Like that was gonna happen. I knew full well that your ideas were not in line with theirs – the gall! – but also, well, they weren’t in line with mine but trust me, you’ll see my way, won’t you now?
Such simple steps. First me, then me and Andrew, say, or me and Matthew or Iscariot to talk to James and John (and mom) – the gall! – and get them straightened out. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll get the group. And you.
But really, just how many times will I be forced to make this run-around? How many times will James and John (and mom) – the gall! – be able to repeat this sorry circle and distract us from your better work?
Once ought to be enough. Or twice. They’re smarter than they ought to be, you know, these Sons of Thunder and their mom – the gall! – but I’d be willing now to go as high as seven and then they can be tax collectors to us all.
What’s that you said? Like… Matthew? Oh. The gall.
A poem/prayer based on Matthew 18:15-20 (with references to Matthew 20:20-28 and 18:21), the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year A, Proper 18 (23).
And [Joseph] kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. – Genesis 45:15
Where does that conversation start? “You sold me into Egypt.” “Well, yes, we did. We, um, thought…” “Well, we didn’t think…” “Mostly, Joe, we felt…” “Yeah, we felt, and mostly what we felt…” “…Was angry.” “Yeah.” “Angry.”
I get angry, God. Oh, yes. Despite the best advice, I’m ready now to test You. Yes, and such a test. For if our weary state is not so great a hardship as the state of slavery, or worse, imprisoned and yet guiltless, or worse, awaiting a deliverance that should not be delayed, yet is…
Our weary state is bad enough that I can set it side-by-side with seven years of famine and with seven years of harvests left to rot amidst the fields. We ignored the Josephs who would tell us to prepare for harsher times…
Well. Suffice it to admit my heart is aching and my blood is pounding and I do not weep for resolution but I weep in deep frustration and I am not ready to embrace my not-so-sorry siblings.
I hesitate as well to reach for You, O God.
So.
May I swiftly come into that place “and after that” enjoyed by Joseph, Reuben, Judah, and the rest. Restore to us the unity of family. And… as I come to You, may my tears drench Your neck and may Your tears run down beyond the collar of my robes, as sweet upon the ground as is the dew of Hermon.
A poem/prayer based on Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133, the Revised Common Lectionary Alternate First Reading and Alternate Psalm for Year A, Proper 15 (20).
We left you there upon the mountain, Lord. The safest place for you – or well, for us – well insulated from the crowd’s demands for things that we, in truth, cannot provide.
If you are there upon the mountain, Lord, then you will not repeat those awkward words, “You give them something now to eat.” With just five loaves of bread at hand (as well you knew).
If we had known about that pair of fish, well, that would surely make the difference in our well-meaning cluelessness. “Bring them to me,” was all you said, and all were fed.
So you are there upon the mountain, Lord, and when we have once more resumed our breath, when we are not so weary carrying those baskets full, we will be there for you.
But now that you are on the mountain, Lord, we find that we cannot return to you with quite the ease we promised. Now a wind opposes our return to land and you.
We’d rather be upon the mountain, Lord, instead of struggling with our oars and sail to make some headway into this head wind. How can we find your presence once again?
But now the wind blows from the mountain, Lord, and with it moves a terrifying shape, a figure of the dead and of our deaths, to take us from your side for now and ever.
“Take heart!” we hear. “Do not now be afraid!” Oh, these, we know, are words of angels, heard by those they summon to great deeds, the likes of which are not within our feeble skills.
And, “It is I!” you cry, O Lord, a word of doubtful reassurance. Who is that who walks upon the gale-tossed sea? A ghost we comprehend; a Savior, not as much.
But when you were upon the mountain, Lord, we strove to come to you despite the wind and now see you come to us, and how can we do other but to meet you here?
So call us from the mountain, Lord, and call us from the heaving sea, and may we take our faltering steps upon the waves and reach – and find – and grasp – your outstretched loving hand.
A poem/prayer based on Matthew 14:22-33, the Revised Common Lectionary First Reading for Year A, Proper 14 (19).
Hoarsely breathing. Sweat’s aroma growing. Taste of dust across the teeth. A shapeless silhouette against the stars. Muscles aching, skin abrading, jaw clenched tight, we wrestle to the dawn.
In ignorance I strain. In ignorance I fumble for a hold. In ignorance I push or pull or pivot. In ignorance I gasp for breath, inhale, exhale, and beg for blessing, beg for name.
Is this you, God? Do you produce this ache by dislocation of my frame? Is this the silent panting struggle with Creation? Is this you, God?
No name. Just a name for me, a name for a devoted wrestler, but I weary of the struggle, weary of the pain, weary of the ignorance.
If you must put your arms about me once again, might it be a parent’s warm embrace and not to separate my fragile, aching bones. Oh, bless me as I am.
A poem/prayer based on Genesis 32:22-31, the Revised Common Lectionary First Reading for Year A, Proper 13 (18).
I don’t think much of your agricultural practice, Jesus. “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to…” a farmer who leaves the weeds amidst the wheat, and only separates the two at harvest.
Well, let me tell you, Jesus, that the weeds are not just growing peacefully beside the wheat. They steal the water, hide the sun, choke the grain. The wheat begs your relief!
“O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me!” “Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?”
I need a farmer who will bring me aid and comfort from the spreading weeds of greed and folly ravishing the struggling grain of your own planting, LORD. “I hate them with perfect hatred,” indeed.
Unless…
Unless, of course, I let the Psalmist’s prayer take root within my heart and blossom there: “See if there is any wicked way in me;” test me to see if I grow like the weeds.
Ah, now I am less eager for your justice or your retribution or your weeding. Now I am content to grow in peace however fragile, to become, I pray, your wheat and not your weed.
“See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
A poem/prayer based on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 and Psalm 139, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading and Psalm for Year A, Proper 11 (16).
Now Sarah said, “God has brought laughter for me…” – Genesis 21:6
Where is the laughter, O God? Where is the delight in your created multiverse? Where is the wonder that bubbles up in human beings rejoicing?
But who can laugh in days like these? Who can laugh? Four hundred thousand people now have died around the world? One hundred thousand of our closer neighbors?
Yes, who can laugh in days like these, when the essential work and heightened risk and sickening and dying falls upon the people burdened by the sin of racism?
Yes, who can laugh when clubs and shields and “rubber bullets” strike, when tear gas drives the ministers from holy ground, when violence asserts the mantle of Christ’s Church.
Yes, who can laugh, for who can breathe? Who can laugh, for who can see for tears? Who can laugh, for who do so through a mask? Who can laugh, for who can see their neighbor smile?
The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh?… Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?”
O LORD, let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, and we will laugh.
A poem/prayer based on Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7, the Revised Common Lectionary First Reading for Year A, Proper 6 (11).
