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.

Not Only When Praised--Aug. 3, 2020

 

Lord Jesus,

Light of all people,

help us do what is right,

not only when hidden at night,

but also in the bright light of day;

 

not only when praised by the people,

but also when condemned by them.

 

Give us our daily bread and also

glad and generous hearts.  

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9

Judg. 6:25-40

Acts 2:37-47

John 1:1-18

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 73:9-10

[The arrogant] set their mouths against heaven,
          and their tongues range over the earth.

Therefore the people turn and praise them,
          and find no fault in them.

 

Judg. 6:27

So Gideon took ten of his servants, and did as the LORD had told him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the townspeople to do it by day, he did it by night.

 

Acts 2:46

Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts…

 

John 1:3b-4

What has come into being in [the Word] was life, and the life was the light of all people. 


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