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.

By Your Spirit--Oct. 7, 2012

 
 King Herod was torn, pulled in two directions--
risk upsetting those who regarded John as prophet,
or embarrass himself by reneging on a promise?

God, I know what it is like to be pulled two ways;
sometimes it gets so bad I must acknowledge my guilt,
seek your face, and in my distress beg your favor.

Then I know I need wisdom beyond human wisdom,
wisdom that depends on knowledge too wonderful for me,
knowledge, O God, so high that I cannot attain it.

Lead me, teach me, by your Spirit.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
Hosea 5:8-6:6
1 Cor. 2:6-16
Matt. 14:1-12

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
          it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Hosea 5:15
I will return again to my place
            until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face.
            In their distress they will beg my favor.

1 Cor. 2:13
And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

Matt. 14:9-10
The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

No comments:

Post a Comment