Hometown Blues

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, and began to say, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. Luke 4:21-30

Hometown Blues 

They built so close to the water

life giving sands eroding away

they so much wanted to control it

that they are on the brink of losing.

Poor used to live here and share

but now the rich want it all 

they want their few weeks a year 

and keep out those not like them.

We want God's love for our kind

we want the bounty and beauty

but attempt to share it with others

and find wrath and violence beginning.

We want to own what is not ours

keeping the abundance locked away

we shroud all God given  fruits

with price tags behind glass.

But God's love is not for us alone

not for the greedy, not for our kind only

but for the ones who make us cringe and tremble

those whose language and ways are unknown.

 

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.