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.

Do Not Cast Us Off, O God--Jan. 10, 2019


O God of our salvation,
do not cast us off or forsake us.
In your sight our works are not perfect
(even with our own eyes, we see the flaws),
but for your servants' sake, do not destroy us all;
wake us up to our callings; strengthen what remains,
even if only fragments, so nothing will be lost.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 46; 147:12-20; 27; 93
Isa. 65:1-9
Rev. 3:1-6
John 6:1-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 27:9c
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
          O God of my salvation! 

Isa. 65:8
Thus says the LORD:
As the wine is found in the cluster,
     and they say, "Do not destroy it,
     for there is a blessing in it,"
so I will do for my servants' sake,
     and not destroy them all.  …"

Rev. 3:2
"…Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. …"  [The angel of the church in Sardis]

John 6:11-12
Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.  When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." 

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