Like a City Shut Up Inside and Out--July 16, 2016

[From July 19, 2008 archive]

When our lives are like a city shut up inside and out,

from which no one comes out and no one goes in,

you come to us with a loaf of bread, bless it,

break it, and tell us to eat because it is your body.

We give you thanks, Lord Jesus, with our whole heart.

Before the false gods of our lives we sing your praise;

you open the gate of our heart to your presence,

you enable us to pay to all what is due them:

to pay taxes and revenue and respect and honor.

We receive all we need from you; to pay is no burden.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98

Josh. 6:1-14

Rom. 13:1-7

Matt. 26:26-35

           

Selected Verses

Ps. 138:1

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;

            before the gods I sing your praise…

Josh. 6:1

Now Jericho was shut up inside and out because of the Israelites; no one came out and no one went in.

Rom. 13:7

Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Matt. 26:26

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body.”