Refugees, Then and Now--Aug. 16, 2019

Exiles from their home--to us, foreigners,

speakers of a different language,

even revolutionaries

or assassins--

cry out:

“Give heed to our cry; we are brought

very low; save us from our

persecutors; they

are too strong

for us!”

We sternly order them to be quiet,

but they cry out louder yet,

“Son of David, have

mercy on us.”

Shall we make them go back?

If we do, O God, have

mercy on us.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 51;148; 142; 65

2 Sam. 15:19-37

Acts 21:37-22:16

Mark 10:46-52

Selected Verses

Ps. 142:6

 Give heed to my cry,
          for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,
          for they are too strong for me. 

2 Sam. 15:19b-20a

Go back, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile from your home.  You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, while I go wherever I can?  …”  [David, to Ittai the Gittite]

Acts 21:37b-38a

The tribune replied [to Paul], “Do you know Greek?  Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 

Mark 10:48

Many sternly ordered [Bartimaeus, the blind beggar] to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”