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.

The Idols of the Nations--Jan. 20, 2014


The idols of the nations are silver
and gold; it is easy to worship them
because we know what they can buy.

But we will worship Jesus, for he was
tested as we are tested, yet without sin.

The dove flew away from Noah's hand,
and it did not return to him any more.
He did not know where it had gone,
but he trusted the flood had ended.

The wind blows where it chooses,
and we hear the sound of it; but we
do not know where it comes from or
where it goes.  So it is with your Spirit.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112
Gen. 8:6-22
Heb. 4:14-5:6
John 2:23-3:15

Selected Verses

Ps. 135:15
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
          the work of human hands.

Gen. 8:12
Then [Noah] waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any more.

Heb. 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

John 3:8
"…The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."  [Jesus to Nicodemus]

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