From One Gone Astray--June 19, 2014

O merciful God, I rejoice in you

and give thanks to your holy name,

because you rejoice over the return of

any child of yours who has gone astray.

You spoke through Moses, and if at some

time you have also spoken through me,

why should that make me puffed up?

Remind me, I am only one who has

gone astray.  When I feel a need

to teach someone humility,

let me begin with me.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62

Numb. 12:1-16

Rom. 2:12-24

Matt. 18:10-20

Selected Verses

Ps. 97:12

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
          and give thanks to his holy name!

Numb. 12:2

…and [Miriam and Aaron] said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?  Has he not spoken through us also?"  And the LORD heard it. 

Rom. 2:21a

…you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself?

Matt. 18:12-13

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.