Enticed and Led Astray--March 14, 2018

O God, we are enticed and led astray to idols.

We put the media in the place of you;

we yearn to be heroes there.

Ignoring all the signs of your love around us,

we reject them and ask for still more.

We want others to forgive us,

but we do not forgive.

According to your steadfast love, dear God,

according to your abundant mercy,

blot out our transgressions.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 147:1-11; 27; 51

Gen. 50:15-26

1 Cor. 12:1-11

Mark 8:11-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 51:1

Have mercy on me, O God,
          according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
          blot out my transgressions. 

Gen. 50:19-21a

But Joseph said to [his brothers], "Do not be afraid!  Am I in the place of God?  Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.  So have no fear…"

1 Cor. 12:2

You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.

Mark 8:11-12

The Pharisees came and began to argue with [Jesus], asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.  And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign?  Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."