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.

Empathy with Jonah--March 6, 2019


O God,
we can emphasize with Jonah,
who was angry with you
for not punishing his enemies--
we want you to make our
enemies bear their own guilt.
Trusting in ourselves that
we are righteous, we too regard
others with contempt.
Forgive us, and help us pursue
peace with everyone.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 5; 147:1-11; 27; 51
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Heb. 12:1-14
Luke 18:9-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 5:10
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
          let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
          for they have rebelled against you.

Jonah 3:10-4:1
When God saw what [the king and people of Nineveh] did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.  But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.

Heb. 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Luke 18:9
[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt…


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