In God's Presence, Fullness of Joy--Dec. 7, 2018

God, you show us the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We can choose to love our neighbors,

and to show our love for the poor

by finding ways to help them

instead of ignoring them

or taking advantage

of their poverty.

How foolish we are if

only out of our abundance we

contribute to the welfare of the poor,

for then we are missing the fullness of joy.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 102; 148; 130; 16

Isa. 3:1-4:1

1 Thess. 4:1-12

Luke 20:41-21:4

Selected Verses

Ps. 16:11

You show me the path of life.
          In your presence there is fullness of joy;
          in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isa. 3:15

What do you mean by crushing my people,
          by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord GOD of hosts.

1 Thess. 4:10b-11

But we urge you, beloved, to [love your brothers and sisters] more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you…

Luke 21:3-4

[Jesus] said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."