Loosed in Heaven

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

Today started with dark clouds and heavy rain. The rain moved out for a bit and it got steamy. The clouds returned and loosed more rain, soaking all the flowers and the unprepared. I have always loved the rain, cold and dense in the fall and warm and puddling in the summer. The gift of water always delights me. It is also to be respected at all times. I have no control over it. None of us do. Yet God has given us the power to bind and loose. We are invited to be very careful and prayerful about what we let loose and what we bind. Respecting the good and damage we can do makes us compassion and real.

Wondrous Creator, your world is perfect

and your world is dangerous in power

in every good gift comes it's misuses

and you call us to be tender and careful

with all of this blessed and wondrous creation.

Help us to walk softly and tread lightly

make our words gentle and our acts uplifting

may our hearts always be tuned to yours

so that our lives might sing your praises. Amen.