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.

April 22, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Daniel 4:1-18
1 Peter 4:7-11
John 21:15-25

II. Selections
Psalm 93:1
The LORD is King, he is robed in majesty;
The LORD is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved.

Daniel 4:4-5
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living at ease in my home and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that frightened me; my fantasies in bed and the visions of my head terrified me.

1 Peter 4:10
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

John 21:15
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

III. Meditation: Stewards of your manifold grace

You are King, robed in majesty;
you are robed, girded in strength;
you have established the world;
no human king compares to you.

Earthly kings may live at ease
in their home, prosper in palace;
but dreams still frighten them,
and fantasies and visions terrify.

Whether royalty or homeless,
teach us to serve one another;
only when we feed your sheep
do we show our love for you.

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