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.

January 17, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 4, 15, 48
Isaiah 44:24-45:7
Ephesians 5:1-14
Mark 4:1-20

II. Selections
Psalm 15:1-2a
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly,
and do what is right ...

Isaiah 45:4
For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I surname you, though you do not know me.

Ephesians 5:10
Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

Mark 4:9
And [ Jesus] said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"

III. Meditation: We do not know you

We do not know you, but you know us as your own;
you have called us, you have named us.

We do not know you, but we know what pleases you:
to walk blamelessly, and do what is right.

We do not know how to be blameless or to do what is right,
unless, with the ears you have given us, we listen.

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