Explaining Job

We gathered, in a circle in the Parlor of the church
gathering to study your word, the message
in the lectionary, the lectionaries of the three passages
the three segments of the story of Job, a righteous man
tested, revealed by God, in the testing
We read the words of your Word, feeling the power
the meaning in the framing of the question, the pithy retorts,
rebukes from God by his arrogance, presumption of parity
the weight of his argument, like soap bubbles or gossamer
burst by the breath of God
Finding parallels in acts of violence, acts of hatred
in our own world, far too close to home
where we no longer feel truly safe, exposed pain
stripping bare the facade, the charade of safety
Setting our feet on thatched grass, riding over quicksand
hoping our weight doesn’t sink us in the mud
knowing only that we don’t understand
can’t grasp the meaning of the moment;
hoping it will be clear in time

October 22, 2006 15:02
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Job 38:1-7 (34-41); Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c


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