Pentecost +9 Sunday – B

Pentecost +9 Sunday – B

Years B
2 Samuel 11:1-15 or 2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 14 or Psalm 145:10-18
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21

Bathsheba and Jesus were both faced with being taken by force. Their circumstances and options were different. Male and Female, Subject and Master, are significant variations.

Both Bathsheba and Jesus were strengthened that they could live through their respective situations.

Bathsheba acquiesced to force; Jesus withdrew from it. There probably isn't one right response to a test.

Of interest is the use of intermediaries by David and Jesus. There were those who responded to inquiries about Bathsheba and Uriah carrying his own death warrant to Joab, who undertook it. There was Philip who didn't play along, Andrew who did, and the disciples who facilitated a feast.

Questions of how we respond to force come at us every day. Likewise, choices of how we are going to respond to requests from authorities. So, how's today for you? Whose intermediary have you been so far and whose do you anticipate being later today?

= = = = = = =

evil requires
accessories
before and after
the fact

under this spreading net
a village smithy stands
strong of arm
stronger of heart

rooted elsewhere
bringing solidarity of port
to those adrift
on the sea

an adult
remembering their child
rich in fish and bread
richer in sharing