PSALM
1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
13With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
(Psalm 119:1-16, King James Version)
SCRIPTURE READING
1-2 At about this time, Herod, the regional ruler, heard what was being said about Jesus. He said to his servants, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead. That's why he's able to work miracles!"
3-5Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison to placate Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery." Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid because so many people revered John as a prophet of God.
6-12But at his birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias's daughter provided the entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away. In his drunken enthusiasm, he promised her on oath anything she wanted. Already coached by her mother, she was ready: "Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer." That sobered the king up fast. Unwilling to lose face with his guests, he did it—ordered John's head cut off and presented to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave it to her mother. Later, John's disciples got the body, gave it a reverent burial, and reported to Jesus.
(Matthew 14:1-12, The Message)
HYMN Your Love, O God
Tune: Vicar
Your love, O God, is broad like beach and meadow, wide as the wind, and our eternal home. You leave us free to seek you or reject you, you give us room to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
We long for freedom where our truest being is given hope and courage to unfold. We seek in freedom space and scope for dreaming and look for ground where trees and plants can grow.
But there are walls that keep us all divided, we fence each other in with hate and war. Fear is the bricks and mortar of our prison, our pride of self, the prison coat we wear.
O judge us, God, and in your judgment free us, and set our feet in freedom’s open space; take us as far as your compassion wanders among the children of the human race.
As we struggle with how to react to the earthquake in Japan please remember www.weekofcomapssion.org
Blessings on your journey,
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