I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

October 01, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Hosea 1:1-2:1
James 3:1-13
Matthew 13:44-52

II. Selections
Psalm 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

Hosea 1:7
But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen.

James 3:13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

Matthew 13:44
" ...The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ... " [ Jesus]

III. Meditation: Petitions

Give us, O God, a steadfast heart-
a heart to sing and make melody;
a heart that depends upon you to save us,
not upon war or weapons of war.

Awaken our soul, O Christ, to see
the hidden treasure you find for us;
teach us to invest all that we have
to acquire it, and joyfully give it away.

Grant us, O Spirit, understanding,
that our lives may be good,
that our works may be done
with gentleness born of wisdom.

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