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.

As We Strive for Your Kingdom--Oct. 28, 2016


Gracious, loving God, happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways that lead to your kingdom.
Wretched are those who worship the beast, who are full
of bloodshed, full of deceit, who plunder for booty.
Teach us to trust in your goodness, that you will
provide what we need as we strive for your
kingdom and that our name may be
written in your book of life.

Lectionary Readings
Ps.84; 148; 25; 40
Nahum 2:13-3:7
Rev. 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31
           
Selected Verses
Ps.84:5
Happy are those whose strength is in you,
          in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 

Nahum 2:1
Ah! City of bloodshed,
     utterly deceitful, full of booty —
     no end to the plunder! 

Rev. 13:8
…and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered.

Luke 12:31
"…Instead, strive for [your Father's] kingdom, and [your food and drink] will be given to you as well.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

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