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.

As a Parent Has Compassion--Feb. 9, 2014


[from Feb. 8, 2010 archive]

Many ways you
bless us in families:

Parents who loved us;
then marriage partners;

and little children, for whom
you showed special affection…

little children, for whom you even
invoked a special kingdom connection.

As you have shown compassion for us
may we ever show compassion for them.

And God, in our families help us avoid all
the useless, ruinous wrangling over words.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
Gen. 24:50-67
2 Tim. 2:14-21
Mark 10:13-22

Selected Verses

Psalm 103:13

As a father has compassion for his children,

         so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.

 

Genesis 24:67

Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent.  He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her.  So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

 

2 Timothy 2:14

Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.

 

Mark 10:14-16

But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to [his disciples], “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.  Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”  And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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