Strangers

This originally had more wording taken directly from today’s Gospel, but those phrases felt forced. I rewrote them, and now this more of a riff on today’s Gospel sending the disciples out two by two, and the first reading’s prophecy of finding our real home:

The world is full of sojourners
and pilgrims on the way:
Lord, may their break their journey here
and rest until the day.

Give us a place to shelter them—
Oh, build for us a house
to be your new Jerusalem
for all who were cast out.

For earth is full of exiles, Lord,
who seek a truer home.
May they find here their bed and board
until the morning comes.

Give us your plenty for their needs:
We are your children all.
Give us your mercy and your feast
each time a stranger calls.

For we were strangers in the land,
were lost—now found and fed,
who find our home within your hand
and manna for our bread.

And you have given us your home—
so may we give to them.
From east and west your people come:
a new Jerusalem.