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 20, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 4, 15, 48
1 Samuel 25:23-44
Acts 14:19-28
Mark 4:35-41

II. Selections
Ps. 15:3
...who do not slander with their tongues,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; ...

1 Samuel 25:32
David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! ..."

Acts 14:19b-20a
Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city.

Mark 4:38-39
But [ Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

III. Meditation: Help from our friends
You have given us to one another, sent us to one another, to help in time of need. Abigail kept David from an act of violence and vengeance; the disciples surrounded Paul and helped him recuperate from a stoning; and Jesus quieted the storm for his disciples, who had also been helping him. You have not sent us to slander with our tongues, or to do evil to our friends, or to take up a reproach against our neighbors.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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