Joy in a Dry and Weary Land--Nov. 21, 2015

[From Nov. 19, 2011 archive]

The land is dry and weary, and we are thirsty and tired;

but you invite us to come, take the water of life as a gift--

everyone who hears, come, and everyone who is thirsty.

And you tell us not to grieve, for your joy is our strength.

And we must have mercy on a fellow slave (who also is

in a dry and weary land), as you have had mercy on us.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63

Neh. 7:73b-8:3, 5-18

Rev. 22:14-21

Matt. 18:21-35

Selected Verses

Ps. 63:1

O God, you are my God, I seek you,
          my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
          as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Neh. 8:10b

"…and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  [Nehemiah to the people who had wept when they heard the law]

Rev. 22:17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
     And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
     And let everyone who is thirsty come.
     Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

Matt. 18:33

"'…Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’  …"

[In Jesus' parable about forgiveness, the king to a slave who owed him ten thousand talents]