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.

May 17, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 63, 90, 125, 149
Ezekiel 47:1-12
1 John 3:11-18
Matthew 10:34-42

II. Selections
Psalms 149:2
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

Ezekiel 47:9
" ...Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. ... " [ The Lord GOD, speaking of the water that flows from the Temple]

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

Matthew 10:42
" ...and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward." [ Jesus to the twelve as he sent them out]

III. Meditation: Where the river goes

We are glad in our Maker;
together we rejoice in our King.

Wherever the river of your love goes,
there will be life, and life in abundance;
and everything will live where love flows.

From the profusion of your love, we must love,
not just in word or speech, but in truth and action;
we will give a cup of cold water, rejoicing in our King.

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