We Who Are East of Eden--Jan. 10, 2012

When our souls are cast down,
help us to recognize you,
the one standing among us.

Help us remember times
when we have found you.

You are the pioneer of our salvation,
made perfect through your sufferings.

We are east of Eden, and we cannot find our way
back to the tree of life--nor do we need to.
Lord, you are more than life enough.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Gen. 3:1-24
Heb. 2:1-10
John 1:19-28

Selected Verses
Ps. 42:6b-c
My soul is cast down within me;
      therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
      from Mount Mizar.

Gen. 3:24
He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

Heb. 2:10
It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

John 1:26
John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know…