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.

Bread that Gives Life to the Suffering--Aug. 22, 2014


There are many in the world today
whose suffering is very great, and much
suffering comes, O God, from the iniquities
of those who breathe threats and murder;
yet we confess our own complicity.

Whatever the source, teach us to have
compassion for those who suffer.
Feed us with your bread of life,
and redeem us from iniquity.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
Job 2:1-13
Acts 9:1-9
John 6:27-40

Selected Verses
Ps. 130:8
It is [the LORD] who will redeem Israel
          from all its iniquities.

Job 2:13
[Job's three friends] sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Acts 9:1
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest…

John 6:33
"…For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."  [Jesus to the crowd following him]

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