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.

Not the Dragon and the Beast--Oct. 31, 2014


The dragon and the beast command with
the crack of whip and rumble of wheel,
galloping horse and bounding chariot;
the world has always relied on these
to supply its needs and its wants;
who can fight against them?

Lord God of hosts, our true authority--
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
If only we strive for your kingdom,
you will give us all that we need.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Nahum 2:13-3:7
Rev. 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 84:12
 O LORD of hosts,
          happy is everyone who trusts in you.

Nahum 3:2
The crack of whip and rumble of wheel,
     galloping horse and bounding chariot! 

Rev. 13:4
[The whole earth] worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"

Luke 12:30-31
For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

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