Evening Prayer With Bob

What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the Lord  in the land of the living!

Had I gone on speaking this way, I should have betrayed the generation of your children. ~ Psalm 73:15

Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.~ Luke 13:28

Image: William Blake, The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, 1822.

Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ~ Luke 13:6-9

Image: "Get Your Hands Dirty: 5 Ways Gardening Can Improve Your Health" from 1440 University

I just learned that some sort of technical glitch kept last evening's prayers off the air. Ah, well... best laid plans and all that. Maybe this one needed to wait until the night before the election. And what preacher wouldn't love a do-over now and then?... Peace, Bob

The golden evening brightens in the west;

Image: Altarpiece of the Saints, Fra Angelico, (1395 - 1455)

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ Book of Common Prayer, p 822.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Image: Revelation 21:1: A new heaven and new earth, Mortier's Bible, Phillip Medhurst Collection

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ~ Luke 12:27 (NRSV)

Image: Among the lillies, Paul Gauguin, 1893

Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.~ Luke 12:2-3 (NRSV)

Image: Secrets, Luc Tuymans, 1990; Belgium