To Find Steadfast Love and Knowledge of You--Oct. 2, 2016

You desire steadfast love, not sacrifice--

knowledge of you, not burnt offerings.

But our love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early.

And knowledge of you seems

too wonderful for us, too

high for us to attain.

Jesus' love for you was steadfast.

Even after he learned the gory news

of John's execution by Herod, he

did not waver. Let our love

be like Jesus'.  And from

your Spirit we receive

all we need to know

of how to love you.

Fill us with your

Holy Spirit. 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139

Hosea 5:8-6:6

1 Cor. 2:6-15

Matt. 14:1-12

           

Selected Verses

Ps. 139:6

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
          it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Hosea 6:4b, 6

Your love is like a morning cloud,
            like the dew that goes away early.  …

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
            the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

[God speaking through the prophet to Ephraim and Judah]

1 Cor. 2:12

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 

Matt. 14:11-12

[John's] head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother.  His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.