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.

Like the Goat Set Free in the Wilderness--May 20, 2014


Gracious God, you are righteous and merciful.
You know what we need before we ask you.
As the goat was set free in the wilderness,
you have set us free from our sin; for
 you have destined us not for wrath,
but to obtain salvation through
the one who died for us--
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whether we are awake
or asleep we live with him.
Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116
Lev. 16:20-34
1 Thess. 5:1-11
Matt. 6:7-15

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
          our God is merciful. 

Lev. 16:22
The goat shall bear on itself all [the people's] iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.

1 Thess. 5:9-10
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.

Matt. 6:8
"…Do not be like [the Gentiles who heap up empty phrases when praying], for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  …"  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

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