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.

May Your Steadfast Love Meet Faithfulness--Nov. 17, 2014


If we dress in fine clothes, feasting sumptuously,
and build a house on high to separate ourselves
from the brother who lies naked at the gate,
and from the sister who lacks daily food;
and if we tell them to stay warm and
to eat well, but give them no aid;
what good are our blessings?

May your steadfast love
and righteousness
make us faithful
to act in love
ourselves.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
Hab. 2:1-4, 9-20
James 2:14-26
Luke 16:19-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 85:10
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
          righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 

Hab. 2:9
"Alas for you who get evil gain for your house,
     setting your nest on high
     to be safe from the reach of harm!" 
[The LORD speaking through the prophet]

James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

Luke 16:19-20
"…There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores…"  [Jesus to the Pharisees]

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