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.

From What Rock Hewn?--Jan. 29, 2011

What is the rock from which we were hewn,
the quarry from which we were dug?
If we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s offspring,
and heirs to the promise that you gave to Abraham.

Who are those who seek to destroy our life in Christ?
They are evil intentions that spring up inside us—
anger, despair, cowardice, envy, pride, folly, selfishness.
Let them go down into the depths of the earth.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Isa. 51:1-8
Gal. 3:23-29
Mark 7:1-23

Selected Verses
Ps. 63:9
But those who seek to destroy my life
      shall go down into the depths of the earth…

Isa. 51:1
Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
      you that seek the LORD.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
      and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Gal. 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Mark 7:21-22
“…For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. …” [Jesus to his disciples]

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