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.

Reconcile, or Live in a Parched Land--April 26, 2018

[From May 15, 2014 archive]

Gracious God, we thank you for brothers and sisters
whom we love in Christ; but we confess there are
others with whom our bond has been fractured.
It must heal before we bring our gift to you.
You made whole Moses' broken tablets;
you will make whole broken relationships.
Failing to reconcile is living in a parched land;
before we offer you our gifts, may we offer peace.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147; 68; 113
Exod. 34:1-17
1 Thess. 2:13-20
Matt. 5:21-26

Selected Verses
Ps. 68:6
God gives the desolate a home to live in;
            he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
            but the rebellious live in a parched land.

Exod. 34:1
The LORD said to Moses, "Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke.  …"

1 Thess. 2:17
As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you--in person, not in heart--we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face. 

Matt. 5:24
"…So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  …"  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

No comments:

Post a Comment