Reading With the People of God #7 CommitmentSample

Memorization Challenge:

6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:6-8 NLT)

Reading Primer: A Prayer For Creation

O Most High, Almighty, good Lord God,

to you belong praise, glory, honor, and blessing!

Praised be my Lord God for all creatures,

and especially for our brother the sun,

who brings us the day and who brings us the light;

fair is he and shines with a very great splendor;

O Lord, he signifies you to us.

Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon,

and for the stars,

which you have set clear and lovely in heaven.

Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind,

and for air and cloud, calms and all weather,

by which you uphold life in all creatures.

Praised be my Lord for our sister water,

who is very useful to us and humble

and precious and clean.

Praised be my Lord for our brother fire,

through whom you give us light in the darkness

and he is very bright and pleasant

and very mighty and strong.

Praised be my Lord for our mother the earth,

which sustains and keeps us

and brings forth many diverse fruits

and flowers of many colors, and grass.

Praised be my Lord for all those

who pardon one another for love's sake,

and who endure weakness and tribulation;

blessed are those who endure peaceably,

for you, O Most High, will give them a crown.

Praised be my Lord for our sister,

the death of the body, from which no one can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin!

Blessed are those who are found to be in your most holy will,

for the second death shall have no power to do them harm.

Praise and bless the Lord, and give thanks.

Serve the Lord with humility. Amen.

- "Canticle of the Sun" — Francis of Assisi