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.

Love that Conquers the World--May 23, 2018



O Jesus, you did not try to avoid criticism
by following the advice of the wicked
or taking the path that sinners tread;
your delight was in loving God.

When--to please the scoffers--
I am tempted to shade the truth,
point the finger, and sow discord,
remind me how much you endured
to show love that conquers the world.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 89:1-18; 147:1-11; 1; 33
Prov. 6:1-19
1 John 5:1-12
Matt. 11:16-24

Selected Verses
Ps. 1:1-2
 Happy are those
          who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
          or sit in the seat of scoffers; 
but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
          and on his law they meditate day and night. 

Prov. 6:12-14
A scoundrel and a villain
          goes around with crooked speech,
winking the eyes, shuffling the feet,
          pointing the fingers,
with perverted mind devising evil,
          continually sowing discord…

1 John 5:3-4a
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. 

Matt. 11:18-19
"…For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!'  Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."  [Jesus to the crowds]

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