A Difficult Balance--June 16, 2011

You call us to be faithful to you,
to what is in your heart and mind;
we are to keep you always before us.

But you warn us—we must not grow
too comfortable with our goodness,
not become proud of our virtues.

Make known to us the ways of life;
Lord Jesus, make us full of gladness
with your presence, but never proud.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
1 Sam. 2:27-36
Acts 2:22-36
Luke 20:41-21:4

Selected Verses
Ps. 16:8
I keep the LORD always before me;
      because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

1 Sam. 2:35a
“…I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. …” [A man of God, to Eli]

Acts 2:28
“…‘You have made known to me the ways of life;
      you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ …” [Peter quotes the psalmist in his address to the crowd on Pentecost]

Luke 20:45
In the hearing of all the people [Jesus] said to the disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. …”