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 Feast upon Mercy, Peace, and Love--Dec. 8, 2017


Gracious  God, with you is great power to redeem.
How often I have ignored the invitation to feast
 upon your abundant mercy, peace, and love. 
Teach me to hate evil, and love good,
and establish justice for the needy.
Teach me to come to the feast,
O God of steadfast love;
in you is my hope.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 102; 148; 130; 16
Amos 5:1-17
Jude 1-16
Matt. 22:1-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 130:7
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
          For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
          and with him is great power to redeem. 

Amos 5:15a
Hate evil and love good,
        and establish justice in the gate…

Jude 2
…May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Matt. 22:1-3
Once more Jesus spoke to [the chief priests and elders] in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.  …"



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Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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