I Am Not Worthy of You

Jesus said to his apostles:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
Matthew 10:37-42

To the tune NON DIGNUS (“O Lord, I Am Not Worthy”):

I am not worthy of you,
O Son of God Most High,
so little do I love you
while seeking my own life.

To love a son or daughter,
this I know how to do,
or give a cup of water
to one who thirsts like you,

but how to love you better
than life or self or kin:
Forgive me, Lord, this failure,
this race I cannot win.

And let me still draw near you,
unworthy as I am,
through those whose love reveals you,
O Christ, the Son of Man.

And let me still receive you
in all that you have sent,
still long for and believe you
in word and sacrament.

O Christ, let me accept you
in any cross I bear.
My love is imperfection,
yet let me still draw near.

Mattia preti a mother entrusts her children to christ065948) By Mattia Preti – https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/old-master-paintings-sculpture-online/mattia-preti-taverna-1613-1699-valletta-183/156486, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=120834817

The Sparrows On the Rooftops

Jesus said to the Twelve:
“Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;
what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others
I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others,
I will deny before my heavenly Father.”
Matthew 10:26-33

The sparrows on the rooftops
or nesting in the eaves
sing out the grace their youth taught
from every gabled peak:
That God counts every feather
and sees them when they fall.
They fear no wind or weather
since heaven hears them call.

This is our song in sorrow,
when huddled in the eaves
and anxious for tomorrow:
that God our Father sees;
that all our hairs are counted
and all our hopes are known;
that love cannot be doubted
and mercy has not flown.

What we have wept in darkness
we sing out in the light,
that God holds every sparrow
in every moment's flight.
Though wind and war surround us,
we turn from dread and fear
to trust the God who counts us
and holds us ever near.

Alcalá de Henares By Draceane – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116021850

As an Infant Cries For Comfort

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
“Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it.”
Then he embraced them and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
Matthew 10:13-16

To the tune BEACH SPRING:

As an infant cries for comfort,
trusting us for all it needs,
so we cry to you in mourning,
trusting in the God who sees.
We lift up our hands in worship, 
lift the voice in us that pleads:
Come, O Lord, and fill our spirits
with the love that holds and feeds.

As a child brings all its wanting,
fearing not to make demands,
so we bring you all our longing,
all we look for at your hands.
So we learn to call you “Father”
when you love to us descends;
we are all your sons and daughters,
and we all on you depend.

As your children, we are calling
for your mercy on us, Lord:
In our trying and our falling,
help us walk still heavenward.
Trusting all we are receiving,
for your gifts still fill the world,
may we all accept your kingdom
as your children, loving God.

Reproduction of a partially restored painting, possibly by Rembrandt, based on a biblical verse, Mark 10 13, “And they brought young children to him”. The painting was discovered by Jan Six. By Jan Six I – https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/kunsthandelaar-jan-six-ontdekt-weer-een-nieuwe-rembrandt~b7ca0af1/#&gid=1&pid=1, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72744225

How Can I Hate?

Based on Matthew 10:24-11:27, all the the stuff about hating your father and mother, and taking up your cross, and Sodom and Gomorrah rising up in judgment, and what the Father has revealed to little ones. A lectionary season I struggle with every cycle.

How can I hate the ones I love
to follow you, my Lord?
I prayed for peace sent from above,
but you have brought the sword.

You speak of anguish, speak of loss
as steps along the way,
and bid me take the bitter cross
and bear its weight each day.

If I should fail in all of this,
then I'll unworthy be,
betraying you with falsehood's kiss,
though you are true to me.

And if I cannot, Lord, what then?
Must I go from your side?
And shall I wander lost again,
without you as my guide?

Though I have seen your mighty works,
yet do I fail of faith.
Shall you condemn the heart that shirks,
though all else you forgave?

My heart is fearful, but it stands
(when it stands) next to you.
Oh, let me stay, and take my hands;
take all in me that's true!

And though that is but little, Lord,
yet do you love the small
and give yourself, not just the sword,
when I before you fall.