malachi and aquinas

Dear ones,

Interesting reading from Malachi this morning. It is directed at the integrity of priests. Rest assured, I am not guilty of the things that the priests are accused of in this reading.  The poem is attributed to St/Thomas Quinas. I will have to go back to my old Aquinas textbooks and see if I can find more of his poetry. Peace. Rev Deb 

Malachi 2:1-16 (NRSV)

And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give
glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings;
indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3I will rebuke your offspring, and
spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. 4Know, then,
that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts. 5My
covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he
revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his
lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7For the lips of a priest
should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the
LORD of hosts. 8But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your
instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9and so I make you despised and
abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your
instruction.

10 Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another,
profaning the covenant of our ancestors? 11Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in
Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the
daughter of a foreign god. 12May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob anyone who does this-any to
witness or answer, or to bring an offering to the LORD of hosts. 13And this you do as well: You cover the Lord's
altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor
at your hand. 14You ask, "Why does he not?" Because the LORD was a witness between you and the wife of
your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15Did
not one God make her? Both flesh and spirit are his. And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So
look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. 16For I hate divorce, says the
LORD, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to
yourselves and do not be faithless.

WE ARE FIELDS BEFORE EACH OTHER

 

How is it they live for eons in such harmony -
the billions of stars -

 

when most men can barely go a minute
without declaring war in their mind against someone they know.

 

There are wars where no one marches with a flag,
though that does not keep casualties
from mounting.

 

Our hearts irrigate this earth.
We are fields before
each other.

 

How can we live in harmony?
First we need to
know

 

we are all madly in love
with the same
God.

 

~ St. Thomas Aquinas ~

 

(Love Poems From God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Daniel Ladinsky)