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.

August 03, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 132, 134
2 Samuel 9:1-13
Acts 19:1-10
Mark 8:34-9:1

II. Selections
Ps. 134:2
Lift up your hands to the holy place,
and bless the LORD.

2 Sam. 9:6-7
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, "Mephibosheth!" He answered, "I am your servant." David said to him, "Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always."

Acts 19:8-9
[ Paul] entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

Mark 8:34
[ Jesus] called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

III. Meditation: For whose sake
David showed kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of his father, Jonathan. In entering a new city, Paul for the sake of his fellow Jews always went first to the synagogue to preach. For the sake of their souls, Jesus invited all who wanted to become his followers to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow him. We lift up our hands to the holy place and bless you, God.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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