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.

Can a Mother Forget Her Nursing Child?--Dec. 28, 2017


God of the whole earth,
our Maker and Redeemer--
Lord of Hosts, Holy One of Israel,
most holy and awesome is your name.

No more could a mother forget her nursing child
or fail to show compassion for the child of her
womb, than that you should forget us, O God.
You have sent redemption to your people,
for it is not your will that one little one
should be lost.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 2; 147:12-20; 110; 111
Isa. 49:13-23
Isa. 54:1-13
Matt. 18:1-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 111:9
[The LORD] sent redemption to his people;
          he has commanded his covenant forever.
          Holy and awesome is his name. 

Isa. 49:15
Can a woman forget her nursing child,
     or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
     yet I will not forget you. 

Isa. 54:5
For your Maker is your husband,
     the LORD of hosts is his name;
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
     the God of the whole earth he is called. 

Matt. 18:14
"…So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost."  [Jesus to his disciples]

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