Readings

Isaiah 30.19-26 | Psalm 147.1-6 | Matthew 9.45-10.8 |

"The harvest is plentiful."
Vincent van Gogh Harvest at La Crau, with Montmajour in the Background.
National Vincent van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Harvest,
by Carl Wayne Jent.

Rapture was so gentle, taping the door
fresh feet scampering, across the kitchen floor
broken eggs sizzling, breakfast in the air
timely was served, all wanted to share

Corps of men arrived at harvest field
rippled though crops, checking on the yield
heatwave ended, with the cool autumn rain
body over worked, legs have been strained

Prayer

Lord of the harvest,
with joy we offer thanksgiving for your love in creation
as we shared in the bread and the wine of the kingdom:
by your grace plant within us a reverence for all that you give us
that we may be generous and wise stewards
of the good things we enjoy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Crest of moon means daily work ends
taste of harvest, dinner meal preparation begins
torn shirts, muddy shoes, dine wearing smiles
void of complaints, after all the miles

Smell of love, covered our nightly feast
crimson skies glow fading, back toward east
roots established, over a hundred years ago
mold and cold in month to show

Song sung quietly, soon time for bed
fight for life, the bible is read
mindless men now resting in their sleep
touch from God, lets their spirit keep.

Antonio Vivaldi. Lauda Jerusalem [Psalm 147.12-20] in E minor, RV609
Bach Consort Vienna, dir. Rubén Dubrovsky.

Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum: Lauda Deum tuum, Sion.
Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum, benedixit filiis tuis in te.
Qui posuit fines tuos pacem, et adipe frumenti satiat te.
Qui emittit eloquium suum terrae, velociter currit sermo eius.
Qui dat nivem sicut lanam, nebulam sicut cinerem spargit.
Mittit crystallum suam sicut bucellas: ante faciem frigoris eius quis sustinebit?
Emittet verbum suum, et liquefaciet ea; flabit spiritus eius, et fluent aquae.
Qui annuntiat verbum suum Jacob,iustitias et iudicia sua Israel.
Non fecit taliter omni nationi: et iudicia sua non manifestavit eis.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.
For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates: and hath blessed thy children within thee.
He maketh peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: and his word runneth very swiftly.
He giveth snow like wool: and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who is able to abide his frost?
He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
He sheweth his word unto Jacob: his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
He hath not dealt so with any nation: neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.