(Jer.17:5-8; Ps.1:1-4,6,40:5; 1Cor.15:12,16-20; Lk.6:17,20-26) "If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all." For His reward is in heaven; His kingdom is not of the earth. And our faith is in His resurrection. It is not to this world we come, not in the things of the earth we make our boast, for he "who seeks his strength in flesh" is he "whose heart turns away from the Lord" and His holy kingdom… but we are among those "whose hope is the Lord." The contrast could not be clearer than it is today in our readings: on the one hand is he who "delights in the law of the Lord" and so follows His ways; and on the other, he who "walks in the way of sinners," finding his delight in the world. And the blessing and the curse each respectively finds is also made obvious for us – one path leads to resurrection and life, the other to a miserable death. And which shall we choose, the kingdom of God or the prison of man… the blessing or the curse? "Woe to you who are rich… to you who are filled now… to you who laugh," for a fate worse than death awaits you – the pleasures you take in your insolence will soon turn to the most despicable bitterness. You stand "in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth," and in it you shall sink if you do not soon look to the light of Christ. The poor and hungry souls who weep and mourn for your salvation, who suffer persecution by your haughty tongue will soon "rejoice and leap for joy" – on the day of resurrection you can count. And what will become of your own soul when you stand, or cringe, before the otherworldly light of your Creator? What shall you then say? The time is short. The rewards of heaven are near. Let us take strength in the Lord's resurrection. Let us bear joyfully His cross. Though drought be upon the land, and though it show itself in His Church, we must be one with Him who "still bears fruit," planted eternally beside the nourishing streams of our Christ. Him they stripped of even His clothing; His skin they scourged at the devil's command. His flesh they nailed to the dying tree – a worm and no man. But He lives, be assured of this; His Spirit never fails. And body and soul He looks out from heaven, waiting for us to join Him there… Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Ballad to the World" from Remove the Mask of Lies, second album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us not know the curse of the world's acceptance and your rejection, but the blessing of being your humble children. YHWH, like a tree planted near running water let us be, fruitful as your Son who alone has your Spirit upon Him. Why should we turn to things that take us from your way? Why should we desire to stand in an empty, lava waste? His Cross let us lift up onto our shoulders, that we might rise to you. O LORD, let us not follow the way of the wicked and so be driven to distress. Their counsel let us not take upon ourselves. Let us rather trust in your Son and meditate on His Word day and night. For here is wisdom that reaches unto Heaven. Here in the call to lay down our lives, to die with your Christ, we find our way to eternal life, where we will leap for joy forevermore. Our hunger now is but a yearning for your face, our weeping but a cry to look upon you. And in such suffering itself we find your presence, LORD, for we share this grief with your Son, who now reigns on high.