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 04, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 103, 117, 139
Isaiah 57:1-13
Hebrews 12:1-6
John 7:37-46

II. Selections
Psalm 103:6
The LORD works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.

Isaiah 57:10
You grew weary from your many wanderings,
but you did not say, "It is useless."
You found your desire rekindled,
and so you did not weaken.

Hebrews 12:3
Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

John 7:37-38a
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. ... "

III. Meditation: Wanderers

O Divine Vindicator, Bringer of Justice:
millions today are forced to be wanderers-
victims of prejudice, greed, and oppression.
Bring justice for them; help them find homes.

No matter how often we wander from you,
we fail to learn how useless the straying.
Once returned, again we yearn to leave;
in this desire we do not weaken.

Still you stand with arms outspread
to all thirsty from their wandering-
you who endured hostility and hatred,
but did not grow weary or ever lose heart.

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