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.

September 09, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 51, 65, 142
1 Kings 18:20-40
Philippians 3:1-16
Matthew 3:1-12

II. Selections
Ps. 65:8
Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

1 Kings 18:26
So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made.

Phil. 3:1
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.
To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard.

Matt. 3:1-2
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

III. Meditation: Repent and rejoice
Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. Forgive us when we fail to hear the shout or feel the joy-forgive us that we spend our time limping and calling on our own version of Baal, even though there is no voice and no answer to our call. Teach us to listen instead for John's wilderness call to repentance. And remind us again and again to rejoice in you; it is a safeguard we need, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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