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.

July 04, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 65, 91, 125
1 Samuel 12:1-25
Acts 8:14-25
Luke 23:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 125:5
But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel.

1 Samuel 12:21
" ...and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless. ... " [ Samuel to the people]

Acts 8:23
" ...For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness." [ Peter to Simon, who practiced magic in Samaria]

Luke 23:1-12
But [ the chief priests] were insistent and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."

III. Meditation: The chains of wickedness

Jesus' accusers claimed he stirred up the people with his teaching.
We need to be stirred up; for we have turned aside to crooked ways;
we pursue useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless.

Do not lead us away with evildoers-
save us from the gall of bitterness
and the chains of wickedness.

Your peace be upon us.

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