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.

Opening a Door of Faith--July 26, 2017


Blessed be your name, O God of Israel,
for all that you have done for us.

Thank you for teaching us
not to try to avenge ourselves
when wronged, but in silence
to ponder it in our beds.

And thank you for opening
a door of faith for us,
and for showing us
that trust in you
overcomes
our fear.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
1 Sam. 25:23-44
Acts 14:19-28
Mark 4:35-41

Selected Verses
Ps. 4:4
When you are disturbed, do not sin;
          ponder it on your beds, and be silent.    Selah 

1 Sam. 25:32-33
David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today!  Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand!  …" 

Acts 14:27
When [Paul and Barnabas] arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. 

Mark 4:35-41
[Jesus] said to [his disciples], "Why are you afraid?  Have you still no faith?" 

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