May 25, 2010

What to Seek

I. Readings
Psalms 42, 146, 102, 133
Proverbs 4:1-27
1 John 4:7-21
Matthew 11:7-15

II. Selections
Psalm 146:9
The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

Proverbs 4:17
For [evildoers] eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.

1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Matthew 11:7-8
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. … ”

III. Meditation

In our wilderness
what do we seek?
A heavenly wind,
a glimpse of you?

O God, we have not seen you;
but you watch over the strangers
and uphold the orphan and the widow;
and if we love one another, you live in us.

Perfect your love in us; give us wisdom,
lest we eat the bread of wickedness,
and drink the wine of violence,
and our way ends in ruin.