God, Still Working--Aug. 13, 2016

God our Father,

you are still working,

and Jesus also is working;

the earth is satisfied with

the fruit of your work.

And we are satisfied, too--

but you have seen how some

of your children are mistreated

and have heard their groaning.

We do not know what makes

their oppressors so strong or

how to overpower them--

pray send help to rescue

those who suffer so.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98

Judg. 16:1-14

Acts 7:30-43

John 5:1-18

           

Selected Verses

Ps. 104:13

From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
          the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

Judg. 16:5

The lords of the Philistines came to [Delilah] and said to her, "Coax [Samson], and find out what makes his strength so great, and how we may overpower him, so that we may bind him in order to subdue him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver." 

Acts 7:34

"'…I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them.  Come now, I will send you to Egypt.'  …"  [Stephen, quoting God in his conversation with Moses]

John 5:17

But Jesus answered [those who persecuted him for healing on the sabbath], "My Father is still working, and I also am working."