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.

We Cannot Bear to Hear You Now--April 5, 2013


 The heavens are glad, the earth rejoices,
the sea roars approval and the field exults,
the wise shine like the brightness of the sky,
like the stars, while they lead to righteousness;

but we in pious conformity are much annoyed
over so many teachings and proclamations.
If you still have all this to tell us, Jesus,
sorry--we just cannot bear it now.
May God have mercy upon us!

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 96; 148; 49; 138
Dan. 12:1-4, 13
Acts 4:1-12
John 16:1-15

Selected Verses

Ps. 96:11-12a
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
            let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
            let the field exult, and everything in it.

Dan. 12:3
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Acts 4:1-2
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.

John 16:12
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  …"  [Jesus to the eleven]

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