By the Authority of Our Lord Jesus--Dec. 1, 2014

Evils encompass us without number--

iniquities until we cannot see--

and our hearts fail us.

You say: cease to do evil, learn to do good,

seek justice, rescue the oppressed,

defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.

Teach us to work in faith and labor in love,

with steadfast hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whose authority we do these things.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 145; 40; 67

Isa. 1:10-20

1 Thess. 1:1-10

Luke 20:1-8

Selected Verses

Ps. 40:12

For evils have encompassed me
          without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
          until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head,
          and my heart fails me.

Isa. 1:16b-17

…cease to do evil, 

            learn to do good;
seek justice,
            rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
            plead for the widow.

1 Thess. 1:2-3

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

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."