January 16, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
Isaiah 44:9-20
Ephesians 4:17-32
Mark 3:19b-35

II. Selections
Psalm 123:4
Our soul has had more than its fill
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.

Isaiah 44:20
[ The maker of idols] feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?"

Ephesians 4:17-19a
Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. They have lost all sensitivity ...

Mark 3:23
And [ Jesus] called [ the scribes] to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? ... "

III. Meditation: Living in the futility of our minds

Millions and millions of poor on the planet-
whose souls have had more than their fill
of scorn from those who are at ease,
and of contempt from the proud-
cry out against us for justice.
We who have lost all sensitivity,
we who are darkened in understanding,
we, whose ignorance and hardness of heart
have alienated us from your life, must change.

But Satan cannot cast out Satan;
we who live in the futility of our minds
cannot save ourselves, cannot recognize
the fraud that we clasp in our right hand.
We must listen to you, and you must save us.