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.

Blessed by the Hand of the Lord--Dec. 22, 2021


O Savior of those who seek refuge

from the sin that separates us 

from one another and from you, 

may it please you to bless us.

 

Bless us so that we may receive

through faith the promise

of your Holy Spirit.

 

The hand of the Lord was with you;

through your blessing may it

be also with us.


Lectionary Readings

Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17

2 Sam. 7:18-29

Gal. 3:1-14

Luke 1:57-66

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 17:7

Wondrously show your steadfast love,

          O savior of those who seek refuge

          from their adversaries at your right hand.

 

2 Sam. 7:29

“…now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue for ever before you; for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed for ever.”  [David,  praying to the LORD]

 

Gal. 3:14

…in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 

Luke 1:66

All who heard [the things that happened when Jesus was circumcised] pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

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