Idle Idols

Reflecting on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany: Two Days after Sunday (Year C)

Scripture

Psalm 115; 1 Samuel 9:15—10:1b; 1 Timothy 3:1-9

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Prayer

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)

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Reflection

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see.

They have ears, but they do not hear;
they have noses, but they do not smell.
They have hands, but they do not feel;
they have feet, but they do not walk;
they make no sound in their throats.
Those who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both small and great.

May the Lord give you increase,
both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,
but the earth he has given to human beings.
The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
But we will bless the Lord
from this time on and forevermore.
Praise the Lord! (Psalm 115).

They have mouths,
but they do not speak—
silent, like stones in the riverbed,
shaped by hands that cannot give them breath.