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.

February 09, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 31, 43, 143
Ezekiel 39:21-29
Philippians 4:10-20
John 17:20-26

II. Selections
Psalm 31:5
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

Ezekiel 39:28c-29
I will leave none of them behind; and I will never again hide my face from them, when I pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.

Philippians 4:12b
In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.

John 17:26
" ...I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." [ Jesus praying for his disciples]

III. Meditation: Your love in us, Christ in us

O faithful God, you have redeemed us;
into your hand we commit our spirit.

Pour out your Spirit upon us;
do not leave any of us behind;
do not hide your face from us.

In all circumstances teach us
the secret of being well fed
and of going hungry, of having
plenty and of being in need.

You have made your love known to us,
so that the love with which you have
loved Christ may be in us, and he in us.

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