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.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Daily Prayer, Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Morning
Behold the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me (Psalm 103:1a)


Invitatory Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow for herself
where she may lay her you, at your altars, 
O Lord of hosts, my Ruler and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.

Psalm 65, 66, 70

Daily Lectionary Reading, Isaiah 58:9b-14
If you remove the yoke from among you, the finger-pointing, the wicked speech; 10 if you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted, your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be like the noon. 11 The LORD will guide you continually and provide for you, even in parched places. He will rescue your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water that won’t run dry. 12 They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account; the foundations of generations past you will restore. You will be called Mender of Broken Walls, Restorer of Livable Streets. 13 If you stop trampling the Sabbath, stop doing whatever you want on my holy day, and consider the Sabbath a delight, sacred to the LORD, honored, and honor it instead of doing things your way, seeking what you want and doing business as usual, 14 then you will take delight in the LORD. I will let you ride on the heights of the earth; I will sustain you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob. The mouth of the LORD has spoken. [Common English Bible]

Prayer for Today: Lord, we confess that we have too often engaged in finger-pointing and unkind speech. We confess that we have too often averted our attention from the poor and the disabled. Shine your light on us now so that we can see those opportunities to join in your work. Open us to the recognition of the joy of observing the Sabbath, of doing things your way, of opening ourselves to delighting in your creation. Amen.

Midday Psalm 119:97-104

Evening
Psalms 102, 103

No comments: