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.

September 26, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 65, 91, 125
2 Kings 6:1-23
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11
Matthew 5:38-48

II. Selections
Psalms 91:1
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty ...

2 Kings 6:16
[ Elisha] replied, "Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them."

1 Corinthians 6:11b
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Matthew 5:39
" ...But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also ..." [ Jesus, sitting on the mountain]

III. Meditation: Do not be afraid

You say to us:

Do not be afraid;
you live in the Shelter of the Most High
and abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

Do not be afraid,
for there are more with us
than there are with them.

Do not be afraid,
and do not resist an evildoer;
but when anyone strikes you
on the right cheek, turn the other also.

Do not be afraid,
for you were washed, sanctified, justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of God.

Do not be afraid!

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