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.

A Precious Cornerstone--Dec. 20, 2020


John the Baptist was great in your sight,

and many rejoiced at his birth,

he was born to announce

what you would do.

 

You made your home among mortals,

dwelt with them to be your peoples.

 

In Jesus you laid a foundation stone,

a tested stone, a precious cornerstone.

 

Lead us in his truth, O God, teach us,

for you are the God of our salvation.

 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110

Isa. 28:9-22

Rev. 20:11-21:8

Luke 1:5-25

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 25:5

Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
          for you are the God of my salvation;
          for you I wait all day long.

 

Isa. 28:16b

See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone,
     a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:
     “One who trusts will not panic.”

 

Rev. 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
     “See, the home of God is among mortals.
     He will dwell with them;
     they will be his peoples,
     and God himself will be with them…”

 

Luke 1:14-15a

“…You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  …”  [An angel, to Zechariah about the birth of his son John]


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