Stumbling

Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'” Luke 17:1-10 

Stumbling

Creator God you balance all things

set us on this moving round earth

delight and mystify us with seasons

restore us and forgive our stumbles.

We are daily stumbling in the dark

our world is full of hidden traps

disease and selfishness swirl around

hating others instead of admitting fear.

You walked this earth and know it

You love all the inhabitants here

your ache is for us to have faith

so healing and forgiveness can flow.

Make us your relatives again today

help us to lean in to faith and prayer

give us the strength to combat fear

let you love flow down like rain today. Amen.