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.

July 17, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
1 Samuel 23:7-18
Romans 11:33-12:2
Matthew 25:14-30

II. Selections
Ps. 81:13
O that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!

1 Sam. 23:14b
Saul sought [ David] every day, but the LORD did not give him into his hand.

Rom. 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matt. 25:26
" ...But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ...'"

III. Meditation: Misplaced persistance
Saul sought David every day, wanting to destroy him. We are very willing to persist in working for our worldly goals, bad though these may be. We become as addled in our searching as was the one-talent man who did not even have the good sense to put his talent in the bank. O that we would listen to you and walk in your ways! Transform us by the renewing of our minds, so that we may discern your will for us, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Then through our lives you will reap abundant harvests.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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