February 21, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 28, 54, 99
Proverbs 4:1-27
1 John 4:7-21
John 11:30-44

II. Selections
Psalm 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
while mischief is in their hearts.

Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

1 John 4:9
God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.

John 11:33
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.

III. Meditation: Do not drag us away.
When we are wicked, when we work evil,
when we speak peace with our neighbors
while mischief is in our hearts,
when we find ourselves in deep darkness
and do not know what we stumble over,
do not drag us away.

You revealed your love among us-
you sent Jesus into the world.

Greatly disturbed in spirit
and deeply moved by suffering,
he wept with those who wept.
In the face of wickedness and evil,
he showed us what your love is like,
so that we might live through him.