June 08, 2010

The Wicked and the Righteous

I. Readings
Psalms 12, 146, 36, 7
Ecclesiastes 8:14-9:10
Galatians 4:21-31
Matthew 15:29-39

II. Selections
Psalm 12:7-8
You, O LORD, will protect us;
      you will guard this generation forever.
On every side the wicked prowl,
      as vileness is exalted among humankind.

Ecclesiastes 8:14a
There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people who are treated according to the conduct of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are treated according to the conduct of the righteous.

Galatians 4:28
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac.

Matt. 15:30a
Great crowds came to [Jesus], bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others.

III. Meditation

The righteous suffer,
and the wicked prosper.

On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among mankind.

Then what benefit is there to be gained
from being children of the promise?

It is an ancient question, and
it has an ancient answer.

The answer is,
you love us all—

the lame, the maimed,
the blind, and the others.

That is the only answer we have,
and it is the only answer we need.