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.

Good Tidings of Peace--Oct. 29, 2020


O God, is there an ancient serpent, a deceiver of the world?

Or is this merely a way of speaking, a mythical figure?

I do not know, but deception is real and rampart. 

 

We deceive others, they deceive us, we deceive ourselves.

But Lord, you have sent us a bearer of good tidings,

given us One who proclaims a gospel of peace.

 

We need not be afraid; you count the hairs of our head.

Deliver our souls from death, our eyes from tears,

and God, deliver our feet from stumbling.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130

Nahum 1:15-2:12

Rev. 12:7-17

Luke 11:53-12:12

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 116:8

For you have delivered my soul from death,
          my eyes from tears,
          my feet from stumbling.

 

Nahum 1:15a

Look!  On the mountains the feet of one
     who brings good tidings,
     who proclaims peace!

 

Rev. 12:9

The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

 

Luke 12:6-7

“…Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight.  But even the hairs of your head are all counted.  Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.  …”  [Jesus, to his disciples]


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