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.

Break the Bow, Shatter the Spear--July 28, 2013


 How will you make wars cease, dear God?
The world is full of warfare,
the weapons of war are powerful and abundant.

Would food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty
lead to a more peaceable world?
Could food and drink change enemies to friends?
(Even if they would not, is it not your will to try?)

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 67; 150; 46; 93
2 Sam. 1:17-27
Rom. 12:9-21
Matt. 25:31-46

Selected Verses

Ps. 46:9
 [The LORD] makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
          he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
          he burns the shields with fire.

2 Sam. 1:27
 How the mighty have fallen,
          and the weapons of war perished!

Rom. 12:20
No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”

Matt. 25:35
"'…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…'"  [In Jesus' parable, the Son of Man speaking to those on his right hand]

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