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.

A Great Wrong, and a Greater Wrong--Aug. 11, 2013


 How often we commit a wrong and, in our shame,
follow the first with an even greater wrong!
Is it because we think only of ourselves?

Hem us in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon us.

Remind us that we must please our neighbor
for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.
Remind us, God, that is how our joy will be fulfilled.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
2 Sam. 13:1-22
Rom. 15:1-13
John 3:22-36

Selected Verses

Ps. 139:5
 You hem me in, behind and before,
          and lay your hand upon me.

2 Sam. 13:16
But [Tamar] said to [Amnon], “No, my brother; for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.”  But he would not listen to her.

Rom. 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.

John 3:29-30
"…He who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.  For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.  …"  [John the Baptist to his disciples]


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