June 27, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
Numbers 16:20-35
Romans 4:1-12
Matthew 19:23-30

II. Selections
Psalm 30:7
By your favor, O LORD,
you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
I was dismayed.

Numbers 16:20-35
[ Moses and Aaron] fell on their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one person sin and you become angry with the whole congregation?"

Romans 4:5
But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Matthew 19:27
Then Peter said in reply [ to Jesus], "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"

III. Meditation: Difficult to believe

That Moses and Aaron had to dissuade you
from executing the whole congregation
over the sins of a few
who questioned authority-
impossible to believe.

When you have established us,
and we are strong as a mountain,
that you should hide your face
and change our confidence to dismay-
hard to accept.

That if we turn our backs
on everything we hold dear,
leave all behind to follow you,
then our reward will make it worth doing-
who but you could make us believe it?

That if we, who lack good works,
trust Christ, who justifies the ungodly,
then our faith will be reckoned to us
as righteousness-
beyond belief ...but not beyond the reach of faith.