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.

Home for the Sparrow, Nest for the Swallow--July 13, 2018



The sparrow finds her home with you, God;
the swallow builds a nest there, too.
Great signs and omens may lead us astray;
by humble submission we find you--
or, better said--we permit you to find us.
You are always with us; you never
fail or forsake us, if humbly we open to you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Deut. 31:7-13, 31:24-32:4
Rom. 10:1-13
Matt. 24:15-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 25:8-9
Good and upright is the LORD;
          therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 
He leads the humble in what is right,
          and teaches the humble his way. 
Ps. 84:3
Even the sparrow finds a home,
          and the swallow a nest for herself,
          where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
          my King and my God. 

Deut. 31:8
"…It is the LORD who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed."  [Moses to Joshua]

Rom. 10:3
For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, [the people of Israel] have not submitted to God's righteousness.

Matt. 24:23-24
Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!' --do not believe it.  For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]


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