June 15, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
Ecclesiastes 11:1-8
Galatians 5:16-24
Matthew 16:13-20

II. Selections
Psalm 26:11
But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.

Ecclesiastes 11:3b
...whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Galatians 5:22-23a
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

III. Meditation: In his integrity
A tree falls and stays put;
if it lands in a swamp, rots;
over a cliff, is dashed to pieces.
There are consequences
when a tree falls.

We fall, and there are consequences;
but you help us move away
from a bad landing place.
Bruised and broken we may be;
still you give us chance to heal.

Peter stumbled and fell, many times,
and you set him on his feet again.
What did Jesus see in Peter;
how could this mud
petrify to rock?

Somehow the fruit of the Spirit
came to grow in Peter:
love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control.

Yes, all of these, plus one trait more
Saint Paul forgot to mention:
Peter walked in his integrity.
Give us integrity, too.
Redeem us, and be gracious.