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.

The Time of Your Visitation, Deliverer God--June 12, 2015


God my Deliverer, take thought for me, I pray,
for I am poor and needy, and you are my help.

The fig tree knows when to put forth its fruits,
the vines their time to blossom--may I not fail
to recognize the time of your visitation to me
because I fear you will find me not as I wish.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Song of Sol. 2:8-13; 4:1-4a, 5-7, 9-11
2 Cor. 12:11-21
Luke 19:41-48

Selected Verses
Ps. 40:17
As for me, I am poor and needy,
          but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
          do not delay, O my God.

Song of Sol. 2:13
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
            and the vines are in blossom;
            they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one,
            and come away."

2 Cor. 12:20a
For I fear that when I come, I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish…

Luke 19:44
"…[Your enemies] will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God."  [Jesus to Jerusalem]

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