November 13, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
Joel 2:21-27
James 1:1-15
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

II. Selections
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

Joel 2:25
I will repay you for the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent against you.

James 1:5
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

Luke 15:31-32
Then the father said to [ his elder son], "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found."

III. Meditation: Generously and ungrudgingly

Generously and ungrudgingly you give us everything you have, and then hold before us the great needs of our brother, whom you love at least as much as you love us. How can we hold back? You send against us the swarming locust, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter; and then you promise to repay our loss, to be our light and our salvation, the stronghold of our life. How can we be afraid? You are a God of paradox, or does it only seem so because we are lacking in wisdom? Is it your purpose to rub our nose in our ignorance until at last we realize our need to ask you for help? ;