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 18, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
2 Samuel 19:1-23
Acts 24:1-23
Mark 12:28-34

II. Selections
Ps. 80:19
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

2 Sam. 19:2
So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, "The king is grieving for his son."

Acts 24:15-16
I have a hope in God-a hope that they themselves also accept-that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people.

Mark 12:34
When Jesus saw that [ the scribe] answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question.

III. Meditation: Victories that turn into mourning
We are familiar with victories that turn into mourning, and we know the accompanying bewilderment and grief, but we have a hope in you. When we bring our questions and doubts and fears before you, open our hearts that we may hear your answers. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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