They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.” Mark 9:30-41
Loving God you placed us in family
surrounding us with siblings and elders
those who can teach us how to live
those who can walk with us on the way.
Too often occupiers have tried to fix us
instead of loving welcome we were sheared
like lost sheep without heard or shepherd
yet you made us in your image for love.
We have used religion to imprison others
we have tried to fix the already prefect
the creations of your loving hands scorned
thinking our image was your true self.
Humble us this day so that we might welcome
the foreign, the alien, the child in need
remove our fears, break us open for love alone
strengthen us so that your circle is whole again. Amen.
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