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.

You Come Walking Toward Us--Aug. 2, 2017

[From July 27, 2011 archive]

We strain at the oars against an adverse wind;
and you, Lord Jesus, come walking toward us.

We may think ourselves anointed as kings,
but we find ourselves powerless,
and you come walking toward us.

Others may regard us as your slaves,
but you come walking toward us
and answer us with deliverance;

for you are the hope of all the ends
of the earth and of the farthest seas,
O God of our salvation.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
2 Sam. 3:22-39
Acts16:16-24
Mark 6:47-56

Selected Verses
Ps. 65:5
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
          O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
          and of the farthest seas.

2 Sam. 3:39a
“…Today I am powerless, even though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me.  …”  [King David to his servants]

Acts16:17
While [the slave-girl] followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.”

Mark 6:48a
When [Jesus] saw that [his disciples] were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea.

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