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.

December 05, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 102, 130
Isaiah 3:1-4:1
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Luke 20:41-21:4

II. Selections
Psalm 102:2
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call.

Isaiah 3:9b
Woe to [ Jerusalem and Judah]!
for they have brought evil on themselves.

1 Thessalonians 4:9
Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another ...

Luke 20:47
" ...[ The scribes] devour widow's houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." [ Jesus to his disciples, in the hearing of all the people]

III. Meditation: Woe to us!

In the day of our own distress, we implore
you to answer us speedily when we call.
Yet we are not ready to answer a call for
help from those whose need is far greater.

We should not need to be reminded that
you intend us to love one another, nor
that prayers for the sake of appearance
do not make amends for our greediness.

We have brought evil on ourselves by
selfishness and indifference. Woe to us!

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