December 27, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 34, 121
Proverbs 8:22-30
1 John 5:1-12
John 13:20-35

II. Selections
Psalm 121:8
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

Proverbs 8:29c-30
...when [ the LORD] marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I [ wisdom] was beside him, like a master worker;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always ...

1 John 5:3b-4a
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.

John 13:30
So, after receiving the piece of bread, [ Judas Iscariot] immediately went out. And it was night.

III. Meditation: Receiving bread

When Judas received the bread from Jesus,
he did not receive it as communion bread;
and when Judas went out into the night,
you did not keep his going out or his coming in.

For Judas neither loved you
nor obeyed your commandments.
He was not born of you;
and though he greatly affected the world,
he could not conquer it.

When you marked out the foundations of the earth,
wisdom was beside you, like a master worker;
and wisdom was daily your delight,
rejoicing before you always.

Grant us your wisdom,
lest the mistakes of Judas
be also our mistakes.