Preparation for What Lies Ahead--Aug. 30, 2019

[From Aug. 26, 2011 archive; adapted from my Aug. 31, 2001 journal]]

Care was taken in building the temple--

no sound of metal could be heard in it.

This was its preparation for what was in store.

Paul was greeted with unusual kindness--

his preparation for the fate that lay before him.

Jesus prayed with everything within him--

then he was ready to rise and meet his betrayer.

O God of my salvation, when, at night,

I cry out to you, incline your ear

and make me ready.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20

1 Kings 5:1-6:1, 6:7

Acts 28:1-16

Mark 14:27-42

Selected Verses

Ps. 88:1-2

O LORD, God of my salvation,
            when, at night, I cry out in your presence,
let my prayer come before you;
            incline your ear to my cry.

1 Kings 6:7

The house was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron was heard in the temple while it was being built.

Acts 28:1-2a

After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.  The natives showed us unusual kindness.

Mark 14:42

"…Get up, let us be going.  See, my betrayer is at hand.”  [Jesus to his disciples]