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.

The Vulnerable Innocent--Oct. 23, 2012


Lord Jesus, you sent out your disciples
like sheep into the midst of wolves;
you know the vulnerability of the innocent.

When I have food on my plate, what do I say
to the child who has nothing to put in her mouth? 
Do I say "peace," when in my heart I have no
intention of feeding her?  Christ, have mercy.

Hasten the day when the hungry
will hunger no more, and thirst no more.
Be their Shepherd, guide them to the water of life,
and wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99
Micah 3:1-8
Rev. 7:9-17
Luke 10:1-16

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
          with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
          while mischief is in their hearts.

Micah 3:5
Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets
     who lead my people astray,
who cry "Peace"
     when they have something to eat,
but declare war against those
     who put nothing into their mouths.

Rev. 7:16
"…They [who have come out of the great ordeal] will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  [An elder before the throne of God]

Luke 10:3
"…Go on your way.  See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.  …"  [Jesus to the seventy disciples he sent out]

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