June 05, 2010

Sweet the Sleep

I. Readings
Psalms 122, 149, 100, 63
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
Galatians 3:23-4:11
Matthew 15:1-20

II. Selections
Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD is God.
      It is he that made us, and we are his;
      we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Ecclesiastes 5:12
Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.

Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.

Matthew 15:12-13
Then the disciples approached and said to [Jesus], “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered them, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.”

III. Meditation

You have made us; we are yours.
In the fullness of time you acted for us.

What you have not planted will be uprooted,
and what you have planted will flourish and grow.

Give us the sweet sleep of those who labor to do your will,
secure in the knowledge that you are at work even as we slumber.