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.

October 02, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 117, 103, 139, 150
2 Kings 20:1-21
Acts 12:1-17
Luke 7:11-17

II. Selections
Ps. 103:7
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.

2 Kings 20:2-3
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD: "Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Acts 12:5
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

Luke 7:12-13
As [ Jesus] approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."

III. Meditation: Remember ...and pray
You made known your ways to Moses, your acts to the people of Israel. Remembering this, Hezekiah pled for his own life, and you answered his prayer. Remembering the compassionate ministry of Jesus, the church prayed fervently for Peter while he was kept in prison. You answered their prayers. May we likewise remember; may we also pray.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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