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 08, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
1 Samuel 14:36-45
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 22:1-14

II. Selections
Psalm 66:11-12
You brought us into the net;
you laid burdens on our backs;
you let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

1 Samuel 14:37
So Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But he did not answer him that day.

Romans 5:5
...and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Matthew 22:9
"' ...Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' ..." [ The king to his slaves]

III. Meditation: Hope does not disappoint

You have brought us into the net
and laid burdens on our backs;
you have ignored our prayers.

Yet you have brought us out,
out into a spacious place,
invited to your banquet.

You have given us hope,
poured love into our hearts;
and hope does not disappoint us.

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