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.

Put an End to the Killings, O Christ--Aug. 18, 2015


 The world is rife with killings, O Christ.
Some killers act out of deep seeded hatred--
hatred often fortified by a mob mentality;
some act out of lust for power or wealth;
others kill in rage, too impatient to consider
the implications of what they are doing.
But you are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love
to all who call on you.
We call on you now--
put an end to the killings.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 123; 146; 30; 86
2 Sam. 18:9-18
Acts 23:12-24
Mark 11:27-12:12

Selected Verses
Ps. 86:5
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
          abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. 

2 Sam. 18:14-15
Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.”  He took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak.  And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.

Acts 23:12
In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 

Mark 12:7-8
"…But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’  So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.  …"  [From Jesus' parable of the vineyard, as told the chief priests, scribes and elders]

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