Because You Are God and Love Us--May 23, 2014

Lord our God, there is gladness in the heavens

and rejoicing on the earth; the sea roars,

fields exult, trees sing for joy.

Poor and aliens are fed;

all who ask receive;

all who search, find;

to anyone who knocks

the door will be opened.

All this, because you love us;

through grace you give us hope

and your eternal comfort for our hearts

and strength for every good work and word.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 96; 148; 49; 138

Lev. 23:1-22

2 Thess. 2:1-17

Matt. 7:1-12

Selected Verses

Ps. 96:11-12

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
          let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
          let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy… 

Lev. 23:22

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the LORD your God.

2 Thess. 2:16-17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Matt. 7:8

"…For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  …"  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]