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.

The Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth--Feb. 27, 2018



Lord Jesus, when we are tested, remind us
that we are part of your family,
and that failing to tell truth to your family
members is being untruthful to you.

Keep our tongues from evil and malice
 and our lips from speaking deceit;
give us the bread of sincerity and truth,
to depart from evil and do good--
to seek peace, and pursue it.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91
Gen. 42:1-17
1 Cor. 5:1-8
Mark 3:19b-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 34:13-14
Keep your tongue from evil,
          and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good;
          seek peace, and pursue it.

Gen. 42:16
"…Let one of you go and bring your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison, in order that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh lives, surely you are spies." [Joseph to his brothers, to test them]

1 Cor. 5:8
Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Mark 3:35
"…Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."  [Jesus to the crowd sitting around him]

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