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.

Of Grace and Mercy--May 8, 2017


Gracious and merciful God,
just in all your ways, kind in all your doings,
you have rescued us from the power of darkness
and transferred us into the kingdom of your beloved Son.
He is Lord over all creation, in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins.

In his good name, we ask you:
break the yoke from all the peoples
who suffer under tyranny, burst the bonds
of all trapped in war or held captive to violence,
and teach us all to demonstrate your grace and mercy.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Jer. 30:1-9
Col. 1:1-14
Luke 6:1-11    

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:17
The LORD is just in all his ways,
          and kind in all his doings. 

Jer. 30:8
On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will break the yoke from off [Israel's and Judah's] neck, and I will burst his bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him.

Col. 1:13-14
[The Father] has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 6:5
Then [Jesus] said to [his critics], "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."

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