Bountifully--Feb. 3, 2011

You have dealt bountifully with us, O God;
with great compassion you have gathered us in.

You have delivered our souls from death,
our eyes from tears, our feet from stumbling.
What can we give in return for our lives?

You have called us to freedom—not so we would
choose self-indulgence, but in love to choose service.

Return, O my soul, to your rest; and of this
be sure: God has dealt bountifully with you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
Isa. 54:1-17
Gal. 5:1-15
Mark 8:27-9:1

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:7-8
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
      for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
      my eyes from tears,
      my feet from stumbling.

Isa. 54:7
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
      but with great compassion I will gather you in.

Gal. 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.

Mark 8:27-9:1
“…For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? …” [Jesus to the crowd and his disciples]