February 14, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
Genesis 31:1-24
1 John 2:1-11
John 9:18-41

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.

Genesis 31:19-20
Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's household gods. And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.

1 John 2:1
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous ...

John 9:27
[ The man who had been born blind] answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?"

III. Meditation: Scorn and contempt
Rachel showed scorn and contempt for her father
and stole his household gods;
Jacob repaid Rachel's father in kind
for the scorn and contempt Laban had displayed to him.

The man born blind scorned the religious authorities,
and to them he was beneath contempt.
So much scorn,
such an abundance of contempt.

Like children we squabble,
though you have warned us not to sin.
Even so, when we sin we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous.