This meditation is based on a passage for December 3, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Reflection and Question: In this passage, Paul fleshes out the big word, “sanctification,” so that the Thessalonians have a clear sense of […]

This meditation is based on a passage for December 2, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Psalm 18:1-20 Reflection and Question: The natural phenomena described in this psalm as manifestations of God are so striking. They include volcanoes, earthquakes, storms of […]

This meditation is based on a passage for December 1, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Isaiah 2:1-4 Reflection and Question: While Mount Zion is the focus of this beautiful vision, this psalm is really speaking to the universal rule of […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 30, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Luke 20:9-18 Reflection and Question: In previous meditations, I have commented on the telling of this same story by Jesus in Mark and Matthew. Luke’s […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 29, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Reflection and Question: This was Paul’s first letter and it set a pattern for all the others by beginning with thanks for […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 27, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Luke 19:41-48 Reflection and Question: Here, Jesus enters Jerusalem just before the Passover and begins teaching, preaching and engaging the leaders of the people. That […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 26, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Romans 15:7-13 Reflection and Question: Paul is winding down his complicated argument to persuade the Christians in Rome to accept all as important to the […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 25, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Ephesians 1:15-23 Reflection and Question: How fitting that such a lovely prayer of thanks is the lectionary text for this Thanksgiving of 2010. Here Paul […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 24, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Luke 19:1-10 Reflection and Question: Many have observed that Jesus concerned Himself way more with the ethics of plenty and want than with other kinds […]

This meditation is based on a passage for November 23, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993). Text: Zechariah 11:4-17 Reflection and Question: Shepherd images for God and God’s agents are common in both the Old and the New Testaments. Usually, the shepherd […]