To Remember the Poor--June 2, 2020

Mighty King, lover of justice,

you execute justice for the oppressed

and give food to the hungry.

There are many who are poor,

and a few who are exceedingly rich;

surely this cannot be equity.

A poor carpenter’s son

received no respect from his own,

nor do we respect our poor.

The days of the poor

are full of pain; even at night

 they cannot rest.

Make us eager

to advocate for and support

the poor and hungry.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

Eccl. 2:16-26

Gal. 1:18-2:10

Matt. 13:53-58

Selected Verses

Ps. 99:4

 Mighty King, lover of justice,
          you have established equity;
you have executed justice
          and righteousness in Jacob.

Ps. 146:6b-7a

…who keeps faith forever;
          who executes justice for the oppressed;
          who gives food to the hungry.

Eccl. 2:23

For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest.  This also is vanity.

Gal. 2:9-10

…and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.  They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.

Matt. 13:55

“…Is not this the carpenter's son?  Is not his mother called Mary?  And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?  …”  [The people in Jesus’ hometown synagogue]