February 20, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 43, 102, 133
Deuteronomy 6:16-25
Hebrews 2:1-10
John 1:19-28

II. Selections
Psalm 43:2
For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because of he oppression of the enemy?

Deuteronomy 6:21
...then you shall say to your children, "We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. ... "

Hebrews 2:10
It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

John 1:26-27
[ John the Baptist] answered [ the priests and Levites], "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal."

III. Meditation: Cast off

O God, for whom and through whom all things exist:
when we walk mournfully because we feel oppressed,
when it seems that even you, our refuge, have cast us off,
remind us that your mighty hand liberated us from bondage.

And if we suffer more than we can bear,
remind us that the pioneer of our salvation-
whose sandal even John was not worthy to untie-
suffered, and was made perfect, and brings us to glory.