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.

Sorrow and Sighing Shall Flee Away--April 21, 2019



We praise you, O God, for your mighty deeds,
and according to your surpassing goodness.
Today we remember: Christ conquered death.
Lord Jesus, open the scriptures to us,
and our hearts will burn within us.
Everlasting joy shall be upon our heads,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 93; 150; 136; 117
Exod. 12:1-14
Isa. 51:9-11
Luke 24:13-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 150:2
Praise [God] for his mighty deeds;
          praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Exod. 12:14
This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.  You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.  [The LORD, to Moses and Aaron]

Isa. 51:11
So the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
          and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
          they shall obtain joy and gladness,
          and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Luke 24:32
[Cleopas and his friend] said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while [Jesus] was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 

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