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.

Truth or Lies--Sept. 1, 2020

 

We deceive ourselves, we deceive others,

we even try to deceive you, O God,

but you will have none of it.

 

We accept lies from others

and too often refuse the truth,

even truth that comes from you.

 

Lord, teach us truth that sets us free,

and we will have no reason to deceive.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7

Job 12:1, 13:3-17, 21-27

Acts 12:1-17

John 8:33-47

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 36:2-3a

For [the wicked] flatter themselves in their own eyes
          that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit…

 

Job 12:13:9b

“…Or can you deceive [God], as one person deceives another?  …”  [Job, to his friends]

 

Acts 12:14-15

On recognizing Peter's voice, [Rhonda, a maid] was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.  They said to her, “You are out of your mind!”  But she insisted that it was so.  They said, “It is his angel.”

 

John 8:46

“…Which of you convicts me of sin?  If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?  …”  [Jesus, to those who had believed in him, but became harsh critics]


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