For the Beauty of the Earth--Oct. 31, 2018

O God, you have given us a beautiful world,

but in extravagance like the dragon's

whose tail swept down stars from heaven,

our negligence destroys its beauty.

Break off the yoke of sin that binds us,

release the evil from within us,

and make us clean.

Then with the heavens we will be glad,

with the earth we will rejoice,

and with the roaring sea, and the field--

exult with all the bounty in them.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134

Nahum 1:1-14

Rev. 12:1-6

Luke 11:42

Selected Verses

Ps. 96:11-12a

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
          let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

          let the field exult, and everything in it. 

Nahum 1:13

"…And now I will break off his yoke from you
     and snap the bonds that bind you."  [The LORD, to Israel, through the prophet]

Rev. 12:4a

[The dragon's] tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. 

Luke 11:41

"…So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you."

[Jesus, to the Pharisees]