Psalm 132
1Lord, remember David, *
and all the hardships he endured;
2How he swore an oath to the Lord *
and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3“I will not come under the roof of my house, *
nor climb up into my bed;
4I will not allow my eyes to sleep, *
nor let my eyelids slumber;
5Until I find a place for the Lord, *
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6“The ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; *
we found it in the fields of Jearim.
7Let us go to God’s dwelling place; *
let us fall upon our knees before his footstool.”
8Arise, O Lord, into your resting-place, *
you and the ark of your strength.
9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; *
let your faithful people sing with joy.
10For your servant David’s sake, *
do not turn away the face of your Anointed.
11The Lord has sworn an oath to David; *
in truth, he will not break it:
12“A son, the fruit of your body *
will I set upon your throne.
13If your children keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them, *
their children will sit upon your throne for evermore.”
14For the Lord has chosen Zion; *
he has desired her for his habitation:
15“This shall be my resting-place for ever; *
here will I dwell, for I delight in her.
16I will surely bless her provisions, *
and satisfy her poor with bread.
17I will clothe her priests with salvation, *
and her faithful people will rejoice and sing.
18There will I make the horn of David flourish; *
I have prepared a lamp for my Anointed.
19As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; *
but as for him, his crown will shine.”
A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
