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.

The Limits to Forgiveness--Aug. 16, 2021

[From Aug. 21, 2017 archive]

 

Gracious and merciful God, you are good to all;

your compassion is over all you have made.  

We do well when we forgive our children,

and it is commendable to apologize even

to our enemies, but Jesus insists we go

further.  He puts no limits on forgiveness--

forgive anyone if we have anything against them.

Help us be more like you, compassionate and merciful 

to all you have made.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112

2 Sam. 17:24-18:8

Acts 22:30-23:11

Mark 11:12-26

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 145:8-9

The LORD is gracious and merciful, 
          slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
The Lord is good to all, 
          and his compassion is over all that he has made.

 

2 Sam. 18:5

The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 

 “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”  And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.

 

Acts 23:5

And Paul said [to the council], “I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.’”

 

Mark 11:25

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”  [Jesus, to his disciples]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)