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.

May 28, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
Deuteronomy 4:9-14
2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Luke 14:25-35

II. Selections
Psalm 112:9
[ The righteous] have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.

Deuteronomy 4:9
But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children ... [ Moses to the people of Israel]

2 Corinthians 1:8
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.

Luke 14:33
So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

III. Meditation: Not to be forgotten

Help us remember the things you have taught us;
show us how to make them known to our children.

Though we do not give up all our possessions to follow you,
let our possessions not have possession over us-
rather, help us distribute freely, giving to the poor.

Make us aware of the afflictions that others receive-
those so unbearably crushed that they despair of life-
and show us what we can do to relieve their pain.

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