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.

If We but Listen to You, O God--Sept. 16, 2018



O Holy One,
put wisdom in our inward parts
and understanding in our minds,
that truly we may listen to you.

Help us realize the importance of
being reconciled with one another,
the foolishness of pursuing luxury,
 the sinfulness of self-glorification.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113
Job 38:1, 18-41
Rev. 18:1-8
Matt. 5:21-26

Selected Verses
Ps. 81:8
Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
          O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 

Job 38:36
"…Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or given understanding to the mind? …" [The LORD to Job]

Rev. 18:7
"…As [Babylon] glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so give her a like measure of torment and grief.  Since in her heart she says, 'I rule as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see grief,' …" [a voice from heaven, calling out to her people]

Matt. 5:23
"…So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  …" [Jesus to the crowd on the mountain]

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