Whether Tears of Joy or of Sorrow--Oct. 25, 2019

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Though at times it may be hard to distinguish

whether tears are from joy or from sorrow,

or to know who is singing your praises,

Christ, may there never be any doubt,

whether we are for or against you,

or whether we gather or scatter.

Keep us alert, standing firm in the faith,

courageous and strong, and may all

that we do be done in love.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20

Ezra 3:1-13

1 Cor. 16:10-24

Matt. 12:22-32

Selected Verses

Ps. 148:7-8

 Praise the Lord from the earth,
          you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
          stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Ezra 3:13

…so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping,, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away.

1 Cor. 16:13-14

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.

Matt. 12:30

“…Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.  …” [Jesus, to those who said he healed with the help of Beelzebul]