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.

When We Complain--Jan. 3, 2021


 God forgive when we complain among ourselves.

Instead, teach us to study your works 

and to delight in them.

 

In Moses you blessed us with the law;

in Jesus you forgive our sins.

How can we complain?

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 111; 150; 107; 15

Deut. 33:1-5

1 John 2:12-17

John 6:41-47

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 111:2

Great are the works of the LORD,
          studied by all who delight in them.

 

Deut. 33:4

Moses charged us with the law,
          as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

 

1 John 2:12

I am writing to you, little children,
          because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.

 

John 6:43

Jesus answered [his critics], “Do not complain among yourselves.  …” 


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)