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The lessons that form this Sunday’s readings run the gamut from profound sadness and hopelessness to the humorous. The psalm and the first lesson both share the poignancy of image and deep sadness, "for we are brought very low." The epistle lesson invites us to pray for our presidents, monarchs, and rulers of governments while the gospel draws on a flim-flam character whose actions can teach us a lesson about preparing for the future.

PSALM 79:1-9-PLEA FOR MERCY

This Sunday’s psalm is a melancholy plea for mercy. The context for such sadness is Jerusalem’s destruction at the hands of the Babylonians in 587 bce. The psalmist pleads for God to stop the violence and destruction. The first four verses describe the utter horror of war-ruins, sacrilege, death and decay, blood, and so many casualties that there is not enough of the living to bury the dead. Verses 5-7 shift to questions and a plea for mercy and revenge; verses 8-9 implore God’s compassion, "for we are brought very low" (v. 9).

JEREMIAH 8:18-9:1-FOR THEIR HURT I AM HURT

This lesson falls in the section that envisions a landscape strewn with corpses and a social scene deprived of marriage and all the joys of life (8:4-10:25). Simply put, the land is a waste; the bones of leaders are strewn on the ground before the astral deities that cannot save them. In our lesson we’re not sure whether the speaker is God or Jeremiah; what is clear is the profound sadness and the end of joy. The cry over such impending devastation is poignant: For the hurt of my people I am hurt . . . is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? (v. 22).

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-7-THOSE IN AUTHORITY

This lesson is one of the more memorable passages from 1st Timothy; the readers are instructed to pray for those in authority since their decisions have direct impact on the proclamation of the gospel and the safety of those who proclaim it. The end result of such praying for kings and all those in high positions is that "we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity" (v. 2). The rest of the passage reprises the gospel kergyma and Paul’s calling to be an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles.

LUKE 16:1-13-FLIM FLAM MAN

The gospel lesson includes Jesus’ delightful parable of the flim-flam man who cheats his way with his boss’ clients so that his future that will be secure. Perhaps the conniver can teach Christians a thing or two about the Kingdom of God and how well we are preparing for the future and how we are making friends in the here and now.