February 16-23, 2011
Lectionary
Mark 9:38-40
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Reflection
“In Christianity there is both choice and no choice, freedom and compulsion. Christianity says to man, ‘you shall choose to accept the eseential truth of life’; and this truth is so compelling that you have no choice. Indeed once you perceive this essential truth, you have no choice but to accept it. Once you realize that God is inviting you into his kingdom, you cannot refuse. The choice to accept or reject Christianity is not a matter of cool deliberation, weighing up pros and cons with the intellect. Christ demands a response of infinite passion, either of hatred or love. Those who crucified him responded with hatred. If you respond with love, you cannot help but accept his invitation. Thus the choice is one of passion, not of reason.” — Soren Kierkegaard
Prayer
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
(from St. Patrick’s Breastplate)