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.

Who Will Separate Us from the Love of Christ?--July 10, 2018


If we live with the weightier matters of the law--
justice and mercy and faith--
who will separate us from your love in Christ?
Your steadfast love is precious,
when we have it, we do not need refuge cities--
just the shadow of your wings.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7
Num. 35:1-3, 9-15, 30-34
Rom. 8:31-39
Matt. 23:13-36

Selected Verses
Ps. 36:7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
          All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

Num. 35:9-11a
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you…"

Rom. 8:35
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Matt. 23:23a
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.  …"

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