Even There, Your Hand Leads Us--Sept. 17, 2021

[Adapted from Sept. 16, 2005 archive]

 

If we take the wings of the morning

and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead us,

and your right hand shall hold us fast.

 

With your hand leading us,

we have no need to boast about human leaders,

for all things are ours--the world and life and death,

the present and the future--

 

all belong to us, and we belong to Christ,

and Christ belongs to you.

 

We know that all lives are precious in your sight;

let them be precious also in our sight, O God.

 

So let our light shine before others,

that they may see our good works

and give glory to you.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
2 Kings 1:2-17
1 Cor. 3:16-23
Matt. 5:11-16

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 139:9-10
If I take the wings of the morning
            and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
            and your right hand shall hold me fast.

 

2 Kings 1:13
Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty.  So the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight.  …”

 

1 Cor. 3:21-23
So let no one boast about human leaders.  For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

 

Matt. 5:16
“ ...In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  …”  [Jesus, seated on the mountain]