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.

Stay with Us, Teacher--March 3, 2017

[From Feb. 11, 2005 archive]

Teacher, where are you staying?
Your teaching is new, yet it is old
 and consistent with sound doctrine. 
You teach us to heed the ordinances
of God, but to heed them with all
our heart and mind and strength.

You teach us that God will
 maintain God’s steadfast love
for us, with great power to redeem,
and that in God is our hope and trust. 
Teacher, stay with us
and help us stay with you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 22; 148; 105; 130
Deut. 7:12-16
Titus 2:1-15
John 1:35-42

Selected Verses
Ps. 130:7
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
            For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
            and with him is great power to redeem.

Deut. 7:12
If you heed these ordinances, by diligently observing them, the LORD your God will maintain with you the covenant loyalty that he swore to your ancestors…

Titus 2:1
But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.

John 1:38
When Jesus turned and saw [John's disciples] following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

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