A Silent Lord; a Rejoicing People--Feb. 6, 2013

 Jesus did not indulge doubters who tested him

and asked him for a sign.

When Jesus was oppressed and afflicted

like a lamb led to slaughter,

he did not open his mouth.

Yet because of how Jesus lived, and how he died,

we are children of freedom; and in our freedom

we rejoice, we burst into song, and we shout:

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134

Isa. 52:13-53:12

Gal. 4:21-31

Mark 8:11-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 96:11-12a

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
            let the sea roar, and all that fills it;      

            let the field exult, and everything in it.

Isa. 52:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
            yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
            and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
            so he did not open his mouth.

Gal. 4:27, 31

For it is written,
     “Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,
            burst into song and shout, you who endure no birthpangs;
     for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
            than the children of the one who is married.”  …

So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.

Mark 8:12

And [Jesus] sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?  Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”