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.

To Be Shut In, Unable to Escape--Sept. 1, 2017


Lord Jesus, you knew well what it was
to be shut in so that you could not escape.
You were familiar with friends whose spirit
was willing, but--when they came into the
 time of trial--whose flesh was weak.

Grant us courage and strength
to show kindness not only to our
friends, but even to strangers--
to welcome them and warm them
and to fulfill all their needs.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20
1 Kings 5:1-6:1, 6:7
Acts 28:1-16
Mark 14:27-42

Selected Verses
Ps. 88:8b-9a
 I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
                  my eye grows dim through sorrow. 

1 Kings 5:8
Hiram sent word to Solomon, "I have heard the message that you have sent to me; I will fulfill all your needs in the matter of cedar and cypress timber.  …"

Acts 28:2
The natives showed us unusual kindness.  Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it.

Mark 14:37-38
[Jesus] came and found [Peter, James, and John] sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep?  Could you not keep awake one hour?  Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

No comments:

Post a Comment