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.

In God, Riches--May 22, 2022

[From May 17, 2020 archive]

 

We give you thanks, O God, for you are good;

generously, ungrudgingly you give to all.

 

Lord, we have no need to store up treasures;

teach us to ask, and trust you to supply.

 

May we learn to cherish the beauty of creation,

protecting integrity of land, waters, and air.

 

Creator and Sustainer, in you we are rich,

for your steadfast love endures forever.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 93; 150; 136; 117

Lev. 25:1-17

James 1:2-8, 16-18

Luke 12:13-21

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 136:1

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
          for his steadfast love endures forever.

 

Lev. 25:5

You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your unpruned vine: it shall be a year of complete rest for the land.

 

James 1:5

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 

 

Luke 12:21

“…So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”  [Jesus, to the crowd]


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