We Do Not Always Have You, Jesus--Sept. 17, 2018

[From Sept. 12, 2016 archive]

Lord Jesus, when you are not with me

(better said, when I am not with you),

I find myself in sharp disagreements,

full of anger, perhaps even jealousy;

to justify myself, I condemn others,

and all my wishes come to nothing.

Forgive me; help me stay with you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112

Job 40:1-24

Acts 15:36-16:5

John 11:55-12:8

Selected Verses

Ps. 112:10

 The wicked see [the righteous honored] and are angry;
          they gnash their teeth and melt away;
          the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Job 40:8

"…Will you even put me in the wrong?  Will you condemn me that you may be justified?  …"  [The LORD to Job]

Acts 15:38-39

But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.  The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

John 12:8

"…You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."  [Jesus to Judas]