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.

Jesus, the Gate for Us--Feb. 19, 2014


[from Feb. 15, 2012 archive]

Lord Jesus, truly you are the gate for us; through you
we come in and go out to find pasture.

You open your tent and welcome us to your holy hill,
although we have no right to be there;

for the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes,
the pride in riches--these sins we have
known, and they come not from you.

We have ill-treated those you gave us to treat
kindly. All this you have witnessed,

yet you are the gate for us; forgive us,
that we may enter by you.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
Gen. 31:25-50
1 John 2:12-17
John 10:1-18

Selected Verses

Ps. 15:1
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
          Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Gen. 31:50
"…If you ill-treat my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, though no one else is with us, remember that God is witness between you and me."  [Laban to Jacob, at the Mizpah pillar]

1 John 2:16
…for all that is in the world--the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches--comes not from the Father but from the world. 

John 10:9
"…I am the gate.  Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  …"  [Jesus to the Pharisees]

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