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.

Moses, Down the Mountain--May 12, 2014


Moses came down the mountain
and saw his people worshiping the calf;
his anger burned hot; and he threw the tablets
that contained your words for us…the tablets broke.

Jesus saw a crowd, and he went up a mountain
and there sat down to teach the people
how to receive your blessing.

God, you know I am not a righteous man like Moses;
and you know that when my anger burns hot
how seldom it does for a righteous reason.
Help me attend to the quiet words of Jesus;
help me devote myself to prayer; keep me alert
to rejoice in you and give thanks to your holy name.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Exod. 32:1-20
Col. 3:18-4:18
Matt. 5:1-10

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:12
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
          and give thanks to his holy name!

Exod. 32:19
As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 

Col. 3:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Matt. 5:1
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying…

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