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.

With Mischief in Their Hearts--July 2, 2019


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Forgive us, Lord Jesus;
we refuse to listen to you,
while we adulate charlatans
who call themselves great—
those who speak peace, but
mischief is in their hearts.

Teach us to follow leaders
who have courage to ignore
cries for hatred and revenge.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99
1 Sam. 11:1-15
Acts 8:1b-13
Luke 22:63-71

Selected Verses
Ps. 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
          with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
          while mischief is in their hearts. 

1 Sam. 11:12-13
The people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’  Give them to us so that we may put them to death.”  But Saul said, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has brought deliverance to Israel.”

Acts 8:10-11
All of [the people], from the least to the greatest, listened to [Simon the magician] eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.”  And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 

Luke 22:67
[The chief priests and scribes] said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” [Jesus] replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe…”

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