December 04, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 40, 67, 122
Isaiah 1:10-20
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Luke 20:1-8

II. Selections
Psalm 67:1-2
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.

Isaiah 1:16-17
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.

1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Luke 20:8
Then Jesus said to [ the chief priests, scribes, and elders], "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

III. Meditation: Grace and peace

You do not force upon us evidence of your authority,
but your authority is plain to see if we but look.
You have been gracious to us and blessed us,
made your face shine upon us,
that everywhere on earth
your way may be known.

In Christ you have shown us
how to answer your call to be clean,
how to remove from before your eyes
the evil of our doings, how to do good:
how to seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.