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.

What Are Mortals Before You?--August 22, 2010


I. Readings

Psalms 67, 150, 46, 93
Job 4:1-6, 12-21
Revelation 4:1-11
Mark 6:1-6a

II. Selections
Psalm 46:6-7
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
      he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
      the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Job 4:17
“ … ‘Can mortals be righteous before God?
      Can human beings be pure before their Maker? … ”
[The voice of a spirit to Eliphaz]

Revelation 4:11
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
      to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
      and by your will they existed and were created.”
[Song of the 24 elders to the one seated on the throne]

Mark 6:3
“…Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And [the people in his home town synagogue] took offense at him.

III. Meditation

What are mortals before you, O Lord of Hosts?
Creator of all things, including us mortals,
you are worthy of glory and honor and power.

What chance have we to be pure before you,
what claim to righteousness in your presence?
Will one so mighty, so beyond us, be our refuge?

Yet you came to us as carpenter son of Mary,
and you lived with your brothers and sisters,
and many who knew you took offense at you.

Somehow your presence in this common man
(who was at the same time uncommonly different)
gives us hope you will show us your mercy and refuge.

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