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.

Pray for the Little Ones--Nov. 20, 2015

[From Nov. 22, 2013 archive]

Great and mighty and awesome God,
keeping covenant and steadfast love,
your words are trustworthy and true.

It is not your will that one little one
should be lost; but many are hungry
or suffer abuse or illness or warfare.

God, accept our prayer for your little
ones; protect them, provide for them,
keep them always in your loving care.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20
Neh. 9:26-38
Rev. 22:6-13
Matt. 18:10-20

Selected Verses
Ps. 6:9
The LORD has heard my supplication;
          the LORD accepts my prayer.

Neh. 9:32a
"Now therefore, our God--the great and mighty and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love--do not treat lightly all the hardship that has come upon us…"  [Ezra's prayer in front of the assembled people of Israel]

Rev. 22:6
And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."

Matt. 18:14
"…So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

No comments:

Post a Comment