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.

April 21, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Leviticus 16:1-19
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

II. Selections
Psalm 115:16
The heavens are the LORD's heavens,
but the earth he has given to human beings.

Leviticus 16:16
Thus [ Aaron] shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Matthew 6:1
" ...Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ... " [ Jesus, seated on the mountain, speaking to the crowds]

I. Meditation: For earth day

You have given us the earth to care for,
which proves to be more than we can do;
or at least more than we are willing to do,
for our uncleannesses and transgressions
and despoilments of the earth are great.

May what we do to make amends be more
than attempts to be seen and praised.
And if as a result, there is no reward,
remind us-we are a people of hope-
and thus we need not grieve as others do.

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