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.

December 18, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 40, 67, 122
Isaiah 11:1-9
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 3:16-21

II. Selections
Psalm 40:7-8
Then I said, "Here I am;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

Isaiah 11:6
The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.

Ephesians 6:15
As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

John 3:21
" ...But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God." [ Jesus to Nicodemus]

III. Meditation: Here I am

May this be my delight-
to do your will, O God.
Bring me to your light,
that I may do what is true;
within my heart inscribe your rule.

Put on my feet shoes to proclaim the gospel of peace;
help me work for the day when wolf and lamb,
leopard and kid, calf and lion and fatling
shall live together in peace,
led by a little child.

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