March 10, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 31, 43, 143, 149
Jeremiah 5:20-31
Romans 3:19-31
John 7:1-13

II. Selections
Psalm 149:2
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

Jeremiah 5:28
...[ the scoundrels among my people] have grown fat and sleek.
They know no limits in deeds of wickedness;
they do not judge with justice
the cause of the orphan, to make it prosper,
and they do not defend the rights of the needy.

Romans 3:28
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

John 7:12
And there was considerable complaining about [ Jesus] among the crowds. While some were saying , "He is a good man," others were saying, "No, he is deceiving the crowd."

III. Meditation: Scoundrels among us

We are glad in you, our Maker;
we rejoice in you, our King.
You do not lay on us the burden of works;
you accept us as we come to you in faith.

Yet there are scoundrels among us
who have grown fat and sleek
as they neglect the cause of the needy
and prey upon the orphan.

They like to complain about you,
that you deceive the crowd.
God, forgive us when we act
like scoundrels ourselves.