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.

October 19, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 46, 67, 93
Micah 1:1-9
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Matthew 16:13-20

II. Selections
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted on the earth."

Micah 1:8
For this I will lament and wail;
I will go barefoot and naked;
I will make lamentation like the jackals,
and mourning like the ostriches.

1 Corinthians 10:12
So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.

Matthew 16:17
And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. ... "

III. Meditation: A place for lamentation and for mourning

O God, you are exalted among the nations and on the whole earth.
From you we can learn what flesh and blood will not reveal to us.
Teach us to still our efforts to win power through military might,
but to base our strength in the sure knowledge that you are God,
lest while we think we are standing, we learn that we are falling;
lest our land becomes a place for lamentation and for mourning.

No comments:

Post a Comment