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.

May the Cock Crow--Dec. 16, 2014


God, remind us of your truth.
We are in a land of deep darkness--
surrounded by so much falsehood that we
want to deny the truth when finally it comes to us.
Before it is too late, may the cock crow to wake us up;
until that wakening all wise counsel will be wasted,
and the plans of the peoples will be frustrated.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 33; 146; 85; 94
Isa. 9:2-7
2 Peter 1:12-21
Luke 22:60

Selected Verses
Ps. 33:10
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
          he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 

Isa. 9:2b
…those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
     on them light has shined. 

2 Peter 1:12
Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. 

Luke 22:60
But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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