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.

When We Ask What We Should Do--Sept. 24, 2018



O Holy One,
you speak peace to your people,
to your faithful, to those who
turn to you with their hearts.

We ask you what we should do,
and you say: do not be afraid,
speak and do not be silent.

If we perish, we perish,
but not apart from
your loving care.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
Esth. 4:4-17
Acts 18:1-11
Luke 1:1-4, 3:1-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 85:8
 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
          for he will speak peace to his people,
          to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 

Esth. 4:16b
"…After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." [Esther's message for Mordecai]

Acts 18:9-10
One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people."

Luke 3:14
Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

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