We Desire a Better Country, a Heavenly One--Feb. 2, 2016

Lord Jesus, you are the living bread,

and for the life of the world

you gave your flesh;

we trust in you--

not in worldly leaders,

nor in any mortals, for they die;

when their breath departs, they return

to earth, and on that day their plans perish.

We do not want to look on death,

certainly not the death of a child,

nor on our own, truth be told;

we desire a better country,

a heavenly one,

with you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7

Gen. 21:1-21

Heb. 11:13-22

John 6:41-51

Selected Verses

Ps. 146:3-4

Do not put your trust in princes,
          in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
          on that very day their plans perish.

Gen. 21:16

Then [Hagar] went and sat down opposite [her son] a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, "Do not let me look on the death of the child."  And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 

Heb. 11:16

But as it is, [these who die in faith] desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. 

John 6:51

"…I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."  [Jesus to those who complained about him]