Prayer for the Weak and the Needy--June 17, 2019

Merciful God, we pray for the weak and the needy,

for the lowly and destitute, the widow and orphan;

rescue, deliver them, from the hand of the wicked.

They are pouring out their souls before you,

constantly devoting themselves to prayer, for

there are many who want to lay hands on them

and who seem to have no fear of the people.

Hear their cry; save them, we pray.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29

1 Sam. 1:1-20

Acts 1:1-14

Luke 20:9-19

Selected Verses

Ps. 82:3-4

“…Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
          maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
          deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 

[God, to the divine council]

1 Sam. 1:15

But Hannah answered [Eli], “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.  …”

Acts 1:14

All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Luke 20:19

When the scribes and chief priests realized that [Jesus] had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.