March 20, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 119:73-80, 121, 145
Genesis 44:18-34
1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Mark 5:21-43

II. Selections
Psalms 145:9
The LORD is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.

Genesis 44:32
" ...For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame in the sight of my father all my life.' ..." [ Judah to Joseph]

1 Corinthians 7:31b
For the present form of this world is passing away.

Mark 5:31
And [ Jesus'] disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?' "

III. Meditation: When the crowd presses in
O God, you are good to all,
and your compassion is over all that you have made.
We see the present form of our world passing away, and we despair.

Remind us of Judah, who for the sake of his father
was willing to become surety for Benjamin;
and remind us of Jesus, who became surety for us.

Even with a crowd pressing in on him,
Jesus remained sensitive to individual persons;
he knew who touched him.

When the crowd presses in on us,
fill us with your compassion,
that we may be more like Jesus.