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.


For the Healing of the Nations--Nov. 17, 2011



You protect the simple; the greatest in your kingdom
is the one who is brought low, humble like a little child.

You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The tree of life that you have prepared for us
bears leaves for the healing of the nations.

O heal the nations and protect the simple,
especially protect the little children.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
Neh. 9:1-25
Rev. 21:22-22:5
Matt. 18:1-9

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:6
The LORD protects the simple;
      when I was brought low, he saved me.

Neh. 9:17b
"…But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you did not forsake them. …" [Ezra to the assembled people of Israel]

Rev. 22:2b
On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Matt. 18:4
"…Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. …" [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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