In Praise of Companionship--July 17, 2013

[From July 13, 2011 Archive]

Jonathan cherished David;

the wedding guests delight to be with the bridegroom;

and we take pleasure in your presence, O Christ.

Mark, Barnabas, and Saul found strength

in traveling together when they did your work;

and we find support in our companions in the faith.

Without them, and without you,

full of nothingness

we would blow away like chaff.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 89:1-18; 147:1-11; 1; 33

1 Sam. 20:1-23

Acts 12:18-25

Mark 2:13-22

Selected Verses

Ps. 1:4

The wicked are not so,
          but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

1 Sam. 20:17

Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.

Acts 12:25

Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.

Mark 2:19

Jesus said to [those who asked why his disciples did not fast], “The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they?  As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.