Friends in Time of Need--Aug. 27, 2021

[From Aug. 26, 2005 archive]

 

Dear God, it is good to have friends.  

King Solomon counted on the friendship 

of King Hiram to help him build the temple. 

 

Paul and his companions benefited 

from the friendship of strangers 

who welcomed them to Malta. 

 

In his time of deepest anguish Jesus took 

his closest friends to watch with him. 

 

When we are weary with moaning, 

when we flood our bed with tears, 

may we remember what he endured. 

 

His friends failed Jesus; he will not fail us.

 

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. 6:6

I am weary with my moaning; 

          every night I flood my bed with tears; 

          I drench my couch with my weeping. 

1 Kings 5:3

“You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.…”  [Solomon to King Hiram]

Acts 28:2

The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it.

Mark 14:33-34

[Jesus] took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.  And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”