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.

Peace to the Nations--March 24, 2013

 O God, you are our sun and shield;
you dwell in unapproachable light.

We have seen the amazing things that Jesus does,
and have heard the children cry out his praises.

You have bestowed favor and honor on him;
today we ask you to help us honor Jesus.

In his honor, help us cut off the chariot,
the war horse, and the battle bow,

for you have commanded
peace to the nations.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 150; 42; 32
Zech. 9:9-12
1 Tim. 6:12-16
Matt. 21:12-17

Selected Verses

Ps. 84:11a
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
          he bestows favor and honor.

Zech. 9:10a-b
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
          and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off,
          and he shall command peace to the nations…

1 Tim. 6:16
It is [God] alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Matt. 21:15
But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that [Jesus] did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry…


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