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.

December 05, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 17, 50, 53
Amos 3:12-4:5
2 Peter 3:1-10
Matthew 21:23-32

II. Selections
Psalm 50:1
The mighty one, God the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Amos 3:12
Thus says the LORD: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Matthew 21:31b
Jesus said to [ the chief priests and the elders of the people], "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ... "

III. Meditation: From the lion's mouth

O mighty God, you summon the entire earth.
Disasters await us if we do not heed your call.
Mushroom clouds, warming of our planet home,
genocidal wars, sectarian violence, terror and hate.

You seek from us repentance, not false piety;
changed ways, not proud and stubborn defense.
Surely it is not your will that earth should perish,
but time is not on our side. How patient can you be?
There may be little left to rescue from the lion's mouth.

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