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 30, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 40, 84, 148
2 Kings 19:1-20
1 Corinthians 9:16-27
Matthew 8:1-17

II. Selections
Ps. 84:2
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

2 Kings 19:14
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.

1 Cor. 9:19
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.

Matt. 8:1-3
When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose. Be made clean!"

III. Meditation: What choice?
What choices did you have, Jesus? To exhilarate in the adoring crowds, or to single out one leper? To heal, or not to heal? To remain free, or to make yourself a slave to all? And what choices do we have? When bad news comes, shall we cower in fear or spread out the letter before you? My soul longs, indeed it faints to be with you; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to you, the living God. What other choice is there?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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