Deceived and Deceiving--Aug. 15, 2019

[From Aug. 13, 2009 archive; adapted from my Aug. 14, 2003 journal]

Like Absalom,

we deceive others;

like the accusers of Paul,

we deceive ourselves as well.

Jesus did not deceive others or himself.

He understood what would happen to him,

and he tried to make his followers understand.

You show us the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of life;

in your right hand are pleasures forevermore--

but we must also face pain and sorrow.

Lectionary Readings

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

2 Sam. 15:1-18

Acts 21:27-36

Mark 10:32-45

Selected Verses

Ps. 97:11

You show me the path of life.

            In your presence there is fullness of joy;

            in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

2 Sam. 15:11

Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom; they were invited guests, and they went in their innocence, knowing nothing of the matter.

Acts 21:27-36

For [the Jews from Asia] had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with [Paul] in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

Mark 10:32

[Jesus and his disciples] were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.  He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him…