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.

Forgive Us; Renew Us--Nov. 19, 2013


 Ezra was utterly appalled when he learned 
his people had been intermarrying;
Lord Jesus, you were exasperated
by the lack of faith your disciples displayed.

These shortcomings seem almost trivial
compared to our own failings--
we have not worked for equity
 nor pursued justice and righteousness.

Forgive us, Lord, and renew us
that we may be your people;
come Holy Spirit, dwell
in us and be with us.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99
Ezra 9:1-15
Rev. 21:1-8
Matt. 17:14-21

Selected Verses

Ps. 99:4
Mighty King, lover of justice,
          you have established equity;
you have executed justice
          and righteousness in Jacob.

Ezra 9:3
When I heard [that the people of Israel had intermarried with other peoples], I tore my garment and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled.

Rev. 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
     "See, the home of God is among mortals.
     He will dwell with them;
     they will be his peoples,
     and God himself will be with them…"

Matt. 17:17
Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you?  How much longer must I put up with you?  Bring [the epileptic whom the disciples could not cure] here to me."

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