The Devil Puts Jesus to the Test

This meditation is based on a passage for September 22, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Luke 4:1-13 Reflection and Question: The greatest treatment of this story in all of literature is the parable of the Grand Inquisitor, told by Ivan […]

You Are My Beloved; On You My Favor Rests

This meditation is based on a passage for September 21, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Luke 3:15-22 Reflection and Question: : I drove my children to school every morning, which took about five minutes depending on the stoplights. On the […]

Perhaps You Are Queen for Just Such a Time as This

This meditation is based on a passage for September 20, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Esther 4:4-17 Reflection and Question: A central theme here is Esther’s courage to help save the Jews from a pogrom against them. This passage explains […]

To Care for the Distressed and Be Unstained by the World

This meditation is based on a passage for September 19, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: James 1:19-27 Reflection and Question: Martin Luther, the reformer, was a staunch critic of the letter of James, which challenges the idea that salvation can […]

Jesus’ Plain Words on Judgment

This meditation is based on a passage for September 18, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: John 12:44-50 Reflection and Question: A foundation for my commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality is the Biblical teaching that judgment belongs to […]

Queen Vashti Refuses to Come When She Is Called

This meditation is based on a passage for September 17, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Esther 1:1-4,10-19 Reflection and Question: In July, at a retreat, we were asked to add some women to the list of the faithful in the […]

The Fear of the Lord — That is Wisdom

This meditation is based on a passage for September 16, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Job 28:1-28 Reflection and Question: The notes in the New Standard Revised Version call the exchange going on between Job and God in this chapter […]

The Coming of the Greeks Marks the Turn to the Cross

This meditation is based on a passage for September 15, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: John 12:20-26 Reflection and Question: Jesus is in full control in the Gospel of John. He may not always like what He has to do […]

God Begins to Answer Job and Job Listens

This meditation is based on a passage for September 13, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Job 40:1-24 Reflection and Question: Finally, after all the give and take between Job and his friends, God speaks up — first, in the previous […]

God’s Judgment Against Babylon

This meditation is based on a passage for September 12, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Revelation 18:1-8 Reflection and Question: The notes for this passage in the New Revised Standard Version are full of references to the prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah […]