Upon the Mountain

Jesus departed with his disciples to the lake, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he sternly ordered them not to make him known. He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Mark 3:7-19

Creator God, your carved the heights and depth

you are found in all places and in all seasons

we often fail to see you in our daily walks

yet you find us even in the depths of night.

You bring us healing and new life and vision

amidst broken families and frail human groups

even among your disciples you had a betrayer

and you loved every one of them and gave them power.

We often curse the situations we find ourselves in

expecting perfection in all except our selves

we  are frail, selfish and so very human

and yet you call us all to be your disciples.

Help us heed you call today and always

let us set judgement aside so your love can reign

help us be the one who asks a gives forgiveness

so that healing and new vision might flow again. Amen.