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 Depart in Peace--Feb. 6, 2018


Great Shepherd of the Sheep, do not condemn us,
but set us free, that we may depart in peace.
Make us complete in everything good,
so that we may do your will
as we go our way.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Gen. 26:1-6, 12-33
Heb. 13:17-25
John 7:53-8:11

Selected Verses
Ps. 102:19-20
…that he looked down from his holy height,
          from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
          to set free those who were doomed to die…

Gen. 26:30-31
So he made [the Philistine King and his companions] a feast, and they ate and drank.  In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 

Heb. 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

John 8:11
[The woman caught in adultery] said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)