August 08, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 40, 84
Judges 9:1-16, 19-21
Acts 4:13-31
John 2:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 84:3
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.

Judges 9:4
[ The lords of Shechem] gave [ Abimelech] seventy pieces of silver out of the temple of Baalberith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.

Acts 4:13
Now when [ members of the Council] saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.

John 2:9
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom ...

III. Meditation: Transformations

Even the sparrow finds a home,
the swallow a nest, at your altars;
even water becomes wine in your service;
even uneducated and ordinary men
were companions of Jesus;
but silver will not transform
worthless and reckless fellows
in the hire of a scoundrel.