For the Sake of Your Name, Jesus?--Aug. 20, 2016

O Jesus Christ, you are called the Light of the World,

but I cannot see the way--you have fenced me in.

How can anyone say you have come down

from heaven--aren't you born of Mary?

Must I suffer for the sake of your name?

Lord, open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them and give you thanks.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111

Job 3:1-26

Acts 9:10-19a

John 6:41-51

           

Selected Verses

Ps. 118:19

 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
          that I may enter through them
          and give thanks to the LORD.

Job 3:23

"…Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in? …" [Job]

Acts 9:15-16

But the Lord said to [Ananias], "Go, for [Saul] is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

John 6:41-42

Then the Jews began to complain about [Jesus] because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."  They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"