The Breastplate of Faith and Love--Dec. 3, 2017

For your name's sake, O God,

pardon our guilt, for it is very great.

The righteous we have sold for silver,

and to buy cheap shoes, the needy;

trampling the poor into the dust,

we push the refugees away.

Are we afraid to protest,

for fear that we will be hated?

Give us endurance, to put on the

breastplate of faith and love,

and for a helmet the hope

of salvation.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110

Amos 1:1-5, 1:13-2:8

1 Thess. 5:1-11

Luke 21:5-19

Selected Verses

Ps. 25:11

For your name’s sake, O LORD, 
          pardon my guilt, for it is great. 

Amos 2:6-7a

Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of Israel,

          and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;

because they sell the righteous for silver,

          and the needy for a pair of sandals--

they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth,

          and push the afflicted out of the way…

1 Thess. 5:8

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 

Luke 21:17-19

"…You will be hated by all because of my name.  But not a hair of your head will perish.  By your endurance you will gain your souls."  [Jesus to his disciples]