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.

May 19, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 49, 96, 138
Leviticus 23:1-22
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Matthew 7:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Leviticus 23:3
Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work: it is a Sabbath to the LORD throughout your settlements.

2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

Matthew 7:1
" ...Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. ..."

III. Meditation: Work and rest
We are the work of your hands;
do not forsake us;
but fulfill your purpose for us
in our work for you.

Part of our work for you
is rest from work-
not for the sake of rest,
but rest for your sake.

Thank you for brothers and sisters
you have given us
to share your work,
and for your Spirit at work in them.

And when in our work we stray,
when we presume to judge
the hearts of other workers,
teach us to rest and leave that work to you.

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