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.

When Our World Is Passing Away--Sept. 30, 2013


 You are good to all, O God; and your
compassion is over all you have made;
but at the same time we acknowledge
your goodness and your compassion,
we attempt to serve our own gods.

 For example, we worry endlessly
about our own well being and
what the future will bring;
for we sense that the
present form of
our world is
passing
away.

Jesus
said, do
not worry
about tomorrow.
In his name, give us
faith to live by his words.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9
2 Kings 17:24-41
1 Cor. 7:25-31
Matt. 6:25-34

Selected Verses

Ps. 145:9
The LORD is good to all,
          and his compassion is over all that he has made.

2 Kings 17:33
So [the newcomers to Samaria] worshiped the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

1 Cor. 7:31b
For the present form of this world is passing away.

Matt. 6:25-34
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today’s trouble is enough for today."  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

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