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.

To Us Sheep Who Foul the Climate--June 2, 2017


God, we are mortals, and we will perish,
but must your sheep who come after us
deal with the climate that we have fouled?
Do we not care about the suffering that we are
leaving to the generations who will follow us? 
Give us wisdom and courage and compassion
to covenant that we will change our ways.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 148; 49; 138
Ezek. 34:17-31
Heb. 8:1-13
Luke 10:38-42
           
Selected Verses
Ps. 49:20
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
          they are like the animals that perish.

Ezek. 34:19
And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet?
[The Lord GOD, speaking to the people of Israel]

Heb. 8:6
But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. 

Luke 10:40
But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to [Jesus] and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?  Tell her then to help me." 

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