I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
2 Samuel 18:9-18
Acts 23:123-24
Mark 11:27-12:12
II. Selections
Psalm 86:16
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your serving girl.
2 Samuel 18:16
Then [ after Joab and his armor-bearers had killed Absalom] Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the troops.
Acts 23:24
" ...Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor." [ The Roman tribune to two of his centurions, after he learned of the plot to kill Paul]
Mark 12:10-11
" ...Have you not read this scripture:
'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes'?" [ Jesus to the chief priests, scribes, and elders]
III. Meditation: Save us from violence
The world is abundant in violent people,
none wholly evil, none entirely virtuous.
Joab-indifferent to David's command-
killed Absalom, who dangled helpless;
but then Joab called back his troops
from pursuit of Absalom's fleeing army.
The Roman tribune who arrested Paul
showed him very little compassion;
still the tribune took strong measures
to protect Paul from assassination.
Turn to us and be gracious to us,
give us strength to resist violence-
resist it in ourselves and in others-
O Rejected Stone, now our Cornerstone.
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