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.

November 05, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
Ezra 3:1-13
Revelation 10:1-11
Matthew 13:36-43

II. Selections
Psalm 82:8
Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
for all the nations belong to you.

Ezra 3:11b
And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Revelation 10:1
And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

Matthew 13:41
" ...The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Collective sin, collective praise

O God, to whom all nations belong,
when you rise up and judge the earth,
and send from heaven a mighty angel-
wrapped in cloud, covered by rainbow,
a face like the sun, legs pillars of fire-
when angels collect all causes of sin
and all evildoers, how will we fare?

May your people work together
to lay a good foundation, and
together shout your praise,
and trust in your love.

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