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September 9, 2007 - 15th Sunday after Pentecost
- 1Happy are those
- who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
- or take the path that sinners tread,
- or sit in the seat of scoffers;
- 2but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
- and on his law they meditate day and night.
- 3They are like trees
- planted by streams of water,
- which yield their fruit in its season,
- and their leaves do not wither.
- In all that they do, they prosper.
-- Psalm 1:1-3
It seems so clear -- follow the ways of the Lord and all will be well,
follow anyone or anything else and... not so good. One (unhelpful) way to hear this psalm
is an image of God in heaven, taking tally, punishing us when we wander astray.
Another way to hear this psalm is as though the psalmist is just naming things as they are.
No matter what life brings, if your attention and focus is on God you will know that you belong
to God and that you do not walk alone. If, by the grace of God you look to God the seasons of your
life will be like a tree that is nourished by God’s presence, bearing the fruit of love and mercy.
We pray: Direct us, O Lord God, in all our doings with your continual help,
that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name;
and finally, by your mercy, bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord. Amen
Lessons for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost:
- Psalm 1
- Deuteronomy 30:15-20
- Philemon 1-21
- Luke 14:25-33
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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