Second Sunday of Lent, March 8th | sweetly questioning
Photo: entlightening
Love bade me welcome. Yet my soul drew back
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked any thing.
A guest, I answered, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?
My dear, then I will serve.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
(“Love iii” by George Herbert)
1 John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Psalm 65:1-4
1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. 2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. 3 When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. 4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Luke 12:37
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Let us come to you, O God. May we approach your throne? Will you meet us on the road? Almighty God, you have invited us to come and taste the sweetness of the healing only your gentle hands can offer. You can draw us near; satisfy our hearts with your unfailing love. Be near to us, Father, and in your fold let our eyes see all that heaven has to give. Will you take the unspoken confessions of our hearts and let the angels sing over us still? Meet us on the road, O God; we are coming to you.
(Prayer written by Anne Taylor Rawls)