January 29, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 9, 62, 73
Isaiah 51:17-23
Galatians 4:1-11
Mark 7:24-37

II. Selections
Psalm 9:15
The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they laid has their own foot been caught.

Isaiah 51:22b
See, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;
you shall drink no more
from the bowl of my wrath.

Galatians 4:9
Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits?

Mark 7:37
[ The people] were astounded beyond measure, saying, "[ Jesus] has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

III. Meditation: In the pit we have dug

Now that we have come to know you-
better said, to be known by you-
how can we turn back to the idolatries
in which once we placed our trust?

We trap ourselves in pits we have dug,
catch our own feet in nets we have laid.
The cup of staggering is in our hands;
take from us the bowl of your wrath.

You make the deaf hear
and the mute speak.
Can you not restore us
to your presence? ;