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.

Should There Be Anyone to Watch?--April 30, 2018


No one was present to watch Aaron
make atonement in the sanctuary, dear God,
but your eyes were upon him there.
You do not reward us for practicing piety
just to be appreciated by others;
yet there is a time to proclaim our beliefs
for the benefit of others, to tell
them the story of Christ's resurrection,
and that we will be with him.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Lev. 16:1-19
1 Thess. 4:13-18
Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:6
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
          and I will declare your greatness. 

Lev. 16:17
No one shall be in the tent of meeting from the time [Aaron] enters to make atonement in the sanctuary until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 

1 Thess. 4:14
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 

Matt. 6:1
"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  …"  [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

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