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.

Your Kingdom: in Clouds and Thick Darkness?--Nov. 6, 2014


Holy God,
Your kingdom may seem a mysterious place,
surrounded by clouds and thick darkness,
but we know righteousness and justice
are the foundation of your throne.

Protect us from foul spirits, lest we
fail to listen for your voice; lest we accept
no correction and fail to trust or draw near you,
lest we let clouds and thick darkness keep us away.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
Zeph. 3:1-7
Rev. 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:2
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
          righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 

Zeph. 3:2
[The soiled, defiled, oppressing city] has listened to no voice;
     it has accepted no correction.
It has not trusted in the Lord;
     it has not drawn near to its God.

Rev. 16:13
And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet. 

Luke 13:18
[Jesus] said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like?  And to what should I compare it?  …"

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