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.

Cast Out the Demons--Oct. 4, 2021

[From Oct. 5, 2015 archive]

 

Cast out the demons, God, 

the demons that dwell in us 

and make us shed very much 

innocent blood, denying justice 

to the weak and the orphan, 

doing evil in your sight. 

 

As we partake of one loaf  

of bread remind us that we are 

all one body in you, and for you; 

Lord, cast out the demons, we pray. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29

2 Kings 21:1-18

1 Cor. 10:14-11:1

Matt. 8:28-34

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 133:1 

How very good and pleasant it is 
          when kindred live together in unity! 

 

2 Kings 22:6b-7 

“…and let [the workers repairing the temple] use [the collection money] to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house.  But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.”  [King Josiah's message to the high priest] 

 

1 Cor. 11:18 

For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. 

 

Matt. 9:4 

But Jesus, perceiving [the scribes’] thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? …”


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