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 06, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
Zephaniah 1:7-13
Revelation 14:1-13
Luke 12:49-59

II. Selections
Psalm 82:2-3
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. ... " [ God holding judgment in the divine counsel]

Zephaniah 1:7a
Be silent before the Lord GOD!
For the day of the LORD is at hand ...

Revelation 14:7
[ The angel] said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made the heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Luke 12:57
"And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ... " [ Jesus to the crowds]

III. Meditation: Judgment

As we dispense justice,
we stand under your judgment.
Why do we not judge for ourselves?

Have we judged unjustly? ;
Shown partiality to the wicked?
Given justice to the weak and the orphan?
Maintained the right of the lowly and destitute?

We will be silent before you-
fear , glorify, and worship you
in the hour of your judgment.

No comments:

Post a Comment