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.

August 22, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 130, 139
Job 2:1-13
Acts 9:1-9
John 6:27-40

II. Selections
Psalm130:7
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.

Job 2:13
[ Job's three friends] sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Acts 9:2-3
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. ... "

III. Meditation: On suffering

We do not understand suffering,
though we all must endure it.

Job's friends sat with him in silence
for seven days and seven nights,
but did not fathom his suffering.

Saul caused great suffering to those
for whom he later endured suffering.

Jesus promised that whoever suffers
hunger or thirst will find relief in him.

O Lord, we hope in you,
in your steadfast love
and great power to redeem,
even from suffering.

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