Let us pray

This Sunday's readings would be well placed here in America on July 4th.

Still, since we're ramping up for some changes in high leadership, a prayer and a vote will go a long way towards ensuring that we might be able to lead "a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity".

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!

High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory. He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dung hill he lifts up the poor to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people.

Beloved: First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority,that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?

Back in '68, the chant in Chicago was "the whole world's watching". That's big.

But not as big as "Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? Never will I forget a thing they have done!"