February 27, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 27, 51
Genesis 45:16-28
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 6:13-29

II. Selections
Psalm 5:7
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house,
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in awe of you.

Genesis 45:24
Then [ Joseph] sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Do not quarrel along the way."

1Corinthians 8:6
...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Mark 6:20
...for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.

III. Meditation: Perplexing

All things are from you, O God, and for you we exist;
all things are through you, O Christ, and through you we exist.
Through the abundance of your steadfast love we come to you;
we come to you, and in awe we bow down before you.

We confess that even as we have made our way to you
we have quarreled with our brothers and sisters.
Though we claim we like to listen to righteous prophets,
we admit it makes us uncomfortable to hear them.

We are perplexed: how can we hold you in awe,
yet disrespect those you send to lead us?