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.

Jesus, for All Seasons--June 3, 2020


When the scepter of wickedness ruled the land,
you experienced all the seasons, Jesus:
birth, death, healing, killing,
breaking down, building up,
weeping, laughing, dancing,
mourning…

Your forerunner was executed—
a clear forewarning of your fate,
but out of love you gave your life.

In response to your love,
we have faith in you;
pray live in us,
O Christ.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Eccl. 3:1-15
Gal. 2:11-21
Matt. 14:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 125:3
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
          on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out
          their hands to do wrong.

Eccl. 3:1-4
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…

Gal. 2:20
…and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Matt. 14:8-9, 12
Prompted by her mother [Herodias], she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”  The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given…  His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.

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