January 14, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
Genesis 6:9-22
Hebrews 4:1-13
John 2:13-22

II. Selections
Psalm 104:12-13
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
they sing among the branches.
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Genesis 6:13
And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

Hebrews 4:13
And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

John 2:15
Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

III. Meditation: What we know about you
Creator God,
in whose eyes all creatures are naked, laid bare-
you know everything about us;
but so little we know about you.

The earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work,
the birds of the air sing in branches
of trees fed by your generous streams.

Yet we fill your earth with our violence,
desecrate the beautiful and holy
in our greed and lust for power.

You must be disappointed and angry.
Will you drive us out of the temple,
answer violence with violence?

What defense do we have?
Only what you in your mercy provide-
and that is all we need to know about you.