January 05, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 99, 110
Joshua 1:1-9
Hebrews 11:32-12:2
John 15:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 99:4
Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.

Joshua 1:3
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses.

Hebrews 11:37-38a
[ Other people of faith] were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword, they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-of whom the world was not worthy.

John 15:16
You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

III. Meditation: Where the soles of our feet tread

Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have chosen us to bear fruit,
fruit that will last.

Surely you intend us to pray for justice
and work to establish equity;
for justice bears lasting fruit.

There is so little equity in our world-
we live in privileged comfort
while the destitute starve.

That is the great injustice in our time-
not those killed by cruel torture,
but those killed by cruel poverty.

Wherever the soles of our feet tread,
does the land belong to us?
No, our footprint is too big.