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.

A Leaning Wall, a Tottering Fence--Sept. 3, 2018


-->

Jesus, you have promised your truth
would make us free. I well remember
what it is to feel like a battered victim--
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence.
So why should I have contempt
for the unfortunate; those
with unstable feet?

Remind me, Jesus,
that I have the ability
to send them relief.
Make me free
to do so.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9
Job 12:1-6, 13-25
Acts 11:19-30
John 8:21-32

Selected Verses
Ps. 62:3
How long will you assail a person,
          will you batter your victim, all of you,
          as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 

Job 12:5
"…Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable.  …"  [Job to his friends]

Acts 11:29-30
The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

John 8:32
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

No comments:

Post a Comment