Cornerstone

Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?” Mark 12:1-11 

Cornerstone

Dear Ground of our being
the crisis around us swirls
we are daily falling apart
yet somehow you hold us.

We have rejected holy stories
refused to listen to the elders
believed ourselves invincible
now we cry like little children.

Yet you hold us as your children
grubby faced terrified offspring
you wrap us in the comfort
of you warm enfolding embrace.

Lift us up again O Creator
strengthen us for this new day
vanquish the disease and fears
make us carriers of love alone. Amen