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.

Paths of the World, and God's Paths--Nov. 2, 2018


The paths of the world
are bloodshed and deceit,
lusting for plunder and booty.
They lead to captivity and killing.

Your paths, O God, are steadfast love
and faithfulness for all who follow them,
who keep your covenant and your decrees.

Remind us that life does not consist in
the abundance of our possessions;
keep us on guard against greed
in all of its manifestations;
give us faith to endure.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Nahum 2:13-3:7
Rev. 13:1-10
Luke 12:13-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 25:10
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
          for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Nahum 3:1
Ah!  City of bloodshed,
     utterly deceitful, full of booty — 
     no end to the plunder! 

Rev. 13:9-10
Let anyone who has an ear listen: If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed.  Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Luke 12:15
And [Jesus] said to [the crowd], "Take care!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."

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