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.

November 02, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
Nahum 1:15-2:12
Revelation 12:7-17
Luke 11:53-12:12

II. Selections
Psalm 116:16
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.

Nahum 2:11
What became of the lion's den,
the cave of the young lions,
where the lion goes,
and the lion's cubs, with no one to disturb them?

Revelation 12:7-8
And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

Luke 12:6
" ...Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Lions and sparrows

If the lion stands for empire
devouring all within its path,
then the sparrow stands for frailty
that looks to you for its defense.

On earth the lions have the upper hand,
the sparrows not a chance-
but maybe in the long run
their prospects will improve.

The lion's den and empire
both perish over time.
Michael defeats the dragon
and sends him out of heaven.

And you will loose the bonds
of all who are oppressed,
setting all the servants free ...
to find freedom serving you.

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