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.

A Wild Beast in the Wilderness--Feb. 19, 2018

[from Feb. 22, 2010 archive]

Jealously is a wild beast in the wilderness of our lives. 
Jealousy is a tool Satan uses to divide us, brother and
sister from sister and brother.  Our divisions grieve you,
and when we pretend to be superior to others, you

humble us.  We may complain, but in our heart of hearts
we know your judgments are right.  Save us from hasty
assumptions that spring from jealousy; free us instead
to keep your faithfulness in mind, and to be accepting.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 119:73-80; 145; 121; 6
Gen. 37:1-11
1 Cor. 1:1-19
Mark 1:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 119:75
I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right,
            and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

Gen. 37:11
So his brothers were jealous of [Joseph], but his father kept the matter in mind.

1 Cor. 1:13
Has Christ been divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Mark 1:13
[Jesus] was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

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