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 Wise Heart--Dec. 19, 2020


Lord Jesus, teach us how to gain a wise heart.

May we empty our heart from jealousy,

may we banish from it hostility.

 

Do not let evil deceive us,

and make us glad to see the light

when you send a burning, shining lamp,

especially when the light is a beacon to you.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 90; 149; 80; 72

Isa. 11:10-16

Rev. 20:1-10

John 5:30-47

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 90:12

So teach us to count our days
          that we may gain a wise heart.

 

Isa. 11:13

The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
          the hostility of Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
          and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.

 

Rev. 20:3

…and threw [the serpent who is the Devil and Satan] into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended.  After that he must be let out for a little while.

 

John 5:35-36a

“…[John] was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.  But I have a testimony greater than John’s  …”


No comments:

Post a Comment