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.

On to the Goal--Nov. 15, 2020


Destruction and violence are rife in the world,

O Christ, strife and contention all around.

 

Yet we must press on to the goal, 

to arrive at your heavenly call.

 

May we never allow trivia

to blind us to what matters:

justice and mercy and faith.

 

Be gracious to us and bless us 

and make your face shine upon us, 

as we work to make your way known. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 67; 150; 46; 93

Hab. 1:1-2:1

Phil. 3:13-4:1

Matt. 23:13-24

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 67:1-2

May God be gracious to us and bless us
          and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
          your saving power among all nations.

 

Hab. 1:3b

Destruction and violence are before me;
     strife and contention arise.

 

Phil. 3:14

…I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Matt. 23:23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.  It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.  …”  [Jesus, in the temple]


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