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 23, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Daniel 4:19-27
1 John 3:19-4:6
Luke 4:14-30

II. Selections
Psalm 115:11
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.

Daniel 4:25c
" ...until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will." [ Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar]

1 John 3:24
All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Luke 4:18b-19
" ...He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." [ Jesus reading from Isaiah]

III. Meditation: In your sovereignty

Whom do you favor, whom do you help and protect, in whom abide?
We read that you favor the captives, the blind, and the oppressed;
that you help and protect those who fear you and trust you;
that you abide in those who obey your commandments.
In your sovereignty, you give to whom you will.

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