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.

How Holy the Place We Live--July 18, 2014


When a certain man was told
that the Teacher's time was near,
and so the Teacher would be keeping

Passover at his house, did he remove
his sandals; did he understand how
holy was the place he lived?

Forgive us, Jesus, if we forget
you want us to live on holy ground;
Restore to us the joy of your salvation,

and when we lag in zeal, sustain in us
an ardent, willing spirit--rejoicing
in hope, persevering in prayer,
always serving you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65
Josh. 4:19-5:1, 10-15
Rom. 12:9-21
Matt. 26:17-25

Selected Verses
Ps. 51:12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
          and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Josh. 4:15
The commander of the army of the LORD said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

Rom. 12:11-12
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 

Matt. 26:18
[Jesus] said [to his disciples], "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" 

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