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.

Have Mercy on Us--July 11, 2018



Holy God, we lift up our hands to you;
have mercy upon us.
Take away the heavy burden of our disputes,
in your mercy.
Forgive our warring ways, Lord Jesus,
and gather your children together,
as a hen gathers her chicks
under her wings.
Christ have mercy.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
Deut. 1:1-18
Rom. 9:1-18
Matt. 23:27-39

Selected Verses
Ps. 134:2
 Lift up your hands to the holy place,
          and bless the LORD.

Deut. 1:12
"…But how can I bear the heavy burden of your disputes all by myself?  …"  [Moses to all Israel]

Rom. 9:15-16
For [God] says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."   So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.

Matt. 23:37
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  …"  [Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees]

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