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 30, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
2 Kings 17:1-18
Acts 9:36-43
Luke 5:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 108:12
O grant us help against the foe,
for human help is worthless.

2 Kings 17: 18
Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight; none was left but the tribe of Judah alone.

Acts 9:36
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and to acts of charity.

Luke 5:8
But when Simon Peter saw [ the catch of fish], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

III. Meditation: Did Israel deserve it?

Granted that you had good reason to be angry at Israel,
for repeatedly you had warned them, yet they persisted.
Still we wonder, was there no one in the whole population
worthy of being saved? No one like Dorcas, devoted to
good works and to acts of charity? Perhaps a Peter-
rough, but with potential? It frightens us to think
what might happen to us should you abandon us:
for without you, human help is worthless.

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