The Daily: Saturday June 8, 2024

Daily Lectionary Reading: Psalm 130 (NRSV, The Message); 1 Samuel 6:1-18 (NRSV, The Message); Luke 8:4-15 (NRSV, The Message)

And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?”
They answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same plague was upon all of you and upon your lords."
1 Samuel 6:4 (NRSV)

Well, this story has taken a bizarre turn! Realizing that Divine Presence isn't a good luck charm, that God will not be kept, the Philistines send it back to the Israelites. Loading on a cow-powered cart along with some gifts, or "guilt offerings" - five gold tumors and five gold mice.

The Philistines took that which had plagued them and offered it up as a sacrifice, as a sign of their contrition. What might it look like to release that which palgues us? To cast it in gold and offer it up to God?