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.

February 20, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 57, 85
Proverbs 3:11-20
1 John 3:18-4:6
John 11:17-29

II. Selections
Psalm 85:10-11
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.

Proverbs 3:11-12
My child, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

1 John 3:22
...and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

John 11:23
Jesus said to [ Martha], "Your brother will rise again."

III. Meditation: That righteousness and peace may kiss
O God of steadfast love and righteousness,
make us faithful,
that righteousness and peace
may kiss each other.

But if we fail, and suffer from the failure,
banish our complaints;
and grant that we may learn
from what we must endure.

All the obedience we could muster
would never make us worthy of your blessings;
but, trusting in your mercy, we dare to ask your favor,
as Martha turned to Jesus for her brother.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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