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.

Rise Up, O God, for the People of Syria--Oct. 27, 2015


Holy One, you live forever and ever;
we give you glory and honor and thanks.

God, the people of Syria have fallen on rocky
soil--pulled up by their roots, scorched
by warfare, they wither away.

The needy groan as they search for bread;
if they still have any treasures left,
they trade them for food.
Rise up, O God,
and place them in the
safety for which they long.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7
Lam. 1:1-12
Rev. 4:1-11
Matt. 13:1-9

Selected Verses
Ps. 12:5
“Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
          I will now rise up,” says the LORD;
          “I will place them in the safety for which they long.” 

Lam. 1:11
All [Jerusalem's] people groan
          as they search for bread;
they trade their treasures for food
          to revive their strength.
Look, O LORD, and see
          how worthless I have become.

Rev. 4:9
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever…

Matt. 13:5-6
"…Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.  But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.  …"  [Jesus to the crowds on the beach]

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