It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Daily Prayer, Friday, August 26, 2011

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.


Morning
Invitatory Psalm 118
O Lord, we give thanks to to you, for you are good;
  your steadfast love endures forever!
….
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
….
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.


This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.


Psalms 41, 42, 43, 47


Daily Lectionary Reading, Exodus 3:1-15

 Moses was taking care of the flock for his father-in-law Jethro, Midian’s priest. He led his flock out to the edge of the desert, and he came to God’s mountain called Horeb. 2 The LORD ’s messenger appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was in flames, but it didn’t burn up. 3 Then Moses said to himself, Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up.


4 When the LORD saw that he was coming to look, God called to him out of the bush, “ Moses, Moses! ”


Moses said, “ I’m here. ”


5 Then the LORD said, “ Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground. ” 6 He continued, “ I am the God of your father, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God. ” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.


7 Then the LORD said, “ I’ve clearly seen my people oppressed in Egypt. I’ve heard their cry of injustice because of their slave masters. I know about their pain. 8 I’ve come down to rescue them from the Egyptians in order to take them out of that land and bring them to a good and broad land, a land that’s full of milk and honey, a place where the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites all live. 9 Now the Israelites’ cries of injustice have reached me. I’ve seen just how much the Egyptians have oppressed them. 10 So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. ”


11 But Moses said to God, “ Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt? ”


12 God said, “ I’ll be with you. And this will show you that I’m the one who sent you. After you bring the people out of Egypt, you will come back here and worship God on this mountain. ”



13 But Moses said to God, “ If I now come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they are going to ask me, ‘What’s this God’s name?’ What am I supposed to say to them? ”


14 God said to Moses, “ I Am Who I Am.e So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God continued, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD , the God of your ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever; this is how all generations will remember me. [Common English Bible]




Today's Prayer: You come to us in those times that we are busy thinking about something else and direct us to take some action that frightens us. When we ignore the problems facing those around us, when we doubt our ability to work toward any solution, when we would really rather just keep on doing what we have been doing, you come to us. Prepare us for those inspirations. Keep us mindful that through your support, we can follow your commands. Amen.



Midday Psalm 119:78-88


Evening
Psalm 74

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