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.


Losing the Kingdom--Dec. 1, 2011



Lord God of Hosts, who formed the mountains
and revealed your thoughts to mortals,
we call upon you, cry for help.

We are in danger of losing your kingdom,
for we have not produced its fruits.

Help us grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
and grant that we may be fruitful.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 18:1-20; 147:12-20; 126; 62
Amos 4:6-13
2 Peter 3:11-18
Matt. 21:33-46

Selected Verses
Ps. 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
      to my God I cried for help.

Amos 4:13
For lo, the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind,
      reveals his thoughts to mortals,
makes the morning darkness,
      and treads on the heights of the earth —
      the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!

2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Matt. 21:43
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

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