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.

Return, O My Soul, to Your Rest--Aug. 3, 2017

[From July 28, 2011 archive]

O God, you have dealt bountifully with us;
when we have been brought low, you have saved us.

When evil things have come into our hearts
and we have been defiled by them,

when our courage has failed,
when everyone has been dismayed,

you have sent brothers and sisters
to visit and encourage us.

You protect the simple.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
2 Sam. 4:1-12
Acts 16:25-40
Mark 7:1-23

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:6-7
The LORD protects the simple;
          when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
          for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

2 Sam. 4:1-12
When Saul’s son Ishbaal heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

Acts 16:40
After leaving the prison [Paul and Silas] went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.

Mark 7:23
 “…All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”  [Jesus to his disciples]

No comments:

Post a Comment