Shall the Hope of the Poor Perish Forever?--Oct. 30, 2017

Lord Jesus, how long shall the needy be forgotten?

Shall the hope of the poor perish forever?

You know that as long as mortals prevail, it will not

be said, "the whole earth remains at peace,"

but how long will you withhold mercy from all who,

in patient endurance, suffer persecution?

How long before the nations will recognize that they

are only human, that they will be judged?

Show us how to do the will of your Father in heaven,

treating as sisters and brothers all who suffer.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9

Zech. 1:7-17

Rev. 1:4-20

Matt. 12:43-50

Selected Verses

Ps. 9:18-20

For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
          nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail;
          let the nations be judged before you.
Put them in fear, O LORD;
          let the nations know that they are only human.  Selah

Zech. 1:11-12a

Then they spoke to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace."  Then the angel of the LORD said, "O LORD of hosts, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah…?"

Rev. 1:9

I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 

Matt. 12:50

"…For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."  [Jesus to the one who told him his mother and brothers waited to see him]