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.

Though to You the Night Is Not Dark--Sept. 9, 2012



O God, you made heaven and earth,
the sea and the springs of water.

The darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

If even the moon is not bright
and the stars not pure in your sight,
how insignificant the light that we make.

Yet Jesus told us to let our light shine before others,
so that they may see our good works and give glory to you!

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
Job 25:1-6, 27:1-6
Rev. 14:1-7, 13
Matt. 5:13-20

Selected Verses
Ps. 139:12
…even the darkness is not dark to you;
      the night is as bright as the day,
      for darkness is as light to you.

Job 25:5
"…If even the moon is not bright
      and the stars are not pure in his sight…"
            [Bildad the Shuhite to Job]

Rev. 14:7
[An angel] said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."

Matt. 5:16
"…In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. …" [Jesus to the crowds on the mountain]

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