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.

Hemmed in, Behind and Before--July 15, 2018


Jesus, the Holy One of God,
you hem me in, behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
The man with an unclean spirit
recognized who you were--
should it be hard for me?

Paul was ready to die for you;
may your Spirit give me strength
and courage to live or to die,
knowing that wherever I go
you are with me.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
Josh. 1:1-18
Acts 21:3-15
Mark 1:21-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 139:5
You hem me in, behind and before,
          and lay your hand upon me. 

Josh. 1:9
"…I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  [The LORD to Joshua]

Acts 1:13
Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Mark 1:23-24
Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are, the Holy One of God."

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