No Sounds of Mirth or Gladness--April 4, 2017

Dear God, in many nations there is no sound

of mirth or of gladness, or the sound

of the bridegroom or bride--

only the sound of war.

I do not know why children are bombed,

maimed, starved, orphaned, killed,

 but one thing I do know: you

are a God of mercy,

of steadfast love,

generous to all

who call on you.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91

Jer. 25:8-17

Rom. 10:1-13

John 9:18-41

Selected Verses

Ps. 25:6

Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
          for they have been from of old. 

Jer. 25:10

And I will banish from [Judah and all the nations around] the sound of mirth and the sound of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. 

Rom. 10:12-13

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.  For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

John 9:25

[The man who had been born blind] answered [Jesus' critics], "I do not know whether [Jesus] is a sinner.  One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."