widows and orphans – Kate Bluett

Two sparrows for a widow's mite, and yet you see them fall, and you, who lift their wings in flight, O God, you hear them call. You make their singing your delight; you love the poor and small, and all their struggles you requite, for you are lord of all. Two turtledoves a son redeem, a mother purify, who trust the law and all it deems, who trust you will supply. And you, who made the waters teem and filled the empty sky, pour down your love in flowing streams, for you are lord on high. Two times the rooster cried the dawn; we weep now for our sin. Our pride and self-deception gone, repentance we begin. And you, who sent your only Son our lives from death to win, look down on every broken one and be our lord within.

Thus says the LORD:
“You shall not molest or oppress an alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.
If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me,
I will surely hear their cry.
My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword;
then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans.”
Exodus 22:20-23

As we have suffered grief and loss,
so we have orphans been.
As you lost Jesus on the cross,
God, gather orphans in.
  
 As we have lost some strong support,
 we, widowed, stood alone.
 Christ, bound bound to pillar for men's sport,
 hold widows all your own.
  
 As we have wandered lost and lorn,
 were strangers in the land,
 so, Spirit, flown with Christ new-born,
 hold strangers in your hand.
  
 As we would love ourselves, oh Lord,
 who loves us first and still,
 so when we hear your saving word,
 let us by grace fulfill:

to love the outcast and the lost
 as we your love have seen;
 to love all those—beyond all cost—
 who are as we have been.
  
 Our Father, Son, indwelling Dove,
 give us your love, your grace.
 Give us yourself that we may love
 all those who bear your face. Amen

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Two Sparrows

As We Have Been