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.

The One Proclaimed by John--March 2, 2017

[From Feb. 14, 2013 archive]

O God, you looked to the future
and chose a people to be holy to you.

In due time you revealed your word through
the proclamations of John the Baptist
and of apostles like Paul.

We have heard their proclamations,
and we want to be part of your people,
though we don't feel holy--or even worthy.

Make us strong, let our hearts take courage;
we wait for the one whom John proclaimed.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102
Deut. 7:6-11
Titus 1:1-16
John 1:29-34

Selected Verses
Ps. 27:14
Wait for the LORD;
          be strong, and let your heart take courage;
          wait for the LORD!

Deut. 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Titus 1:3
…in due time [God] revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior…

John 1:29
The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! …"

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