Like Paul or Herod?--Jan. 30, 2019

O God of our salvation,

you answer our prayers with deliverance.

You have given us Jesus

to be a light to the nations, so that your salvation

might reach to the end of the earth.

The gift of your Son

led Paul to "die" to himself, to let Christ live in him.

I would like to be like Paul,

but sometimes I feel more like Herod, who recognized

what was good, but was afraid to live it.

Have mercy on me.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91

Isa. 49:1-12

Gal. 2:11-21

Mark 6:13-29

Selected Verses

Ps. 65:5

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
          O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
          and of the farthest seas. 

Isa. 49:6

[The LORD] says,
    "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
          to raise up the tribes of Jacob
          and to restore the survivors of Israel;
     I will give you as a light to the nations,
          that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Gal. 2:20

…and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Mark 6:20

…for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.