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 06, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
2 Kings 23:4-25
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Matthew 9:18-26

II. Selections
Ps. 97:11
Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.

2 Kings 23:17-18
Then [ King Josiah] said, "What is that monument that I see?" The people of the city told him, "It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted these things that you have done against the altar at Bethel." He said, "Let him rest; let no one move his bones." So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.

1 Cor. 12:4-6
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.

Matthew 9:24
...[ Jesus] said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

III. Meditation: Light dawns
Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. All laughing is not from joy. They laughed at Jesus. All gifts and services and activities that come from you are righteous; but not all are from you. Not all your prophets had monuments erected in their memory, and not even the bones of your prophets were always left undisturbed. Yet, somehow and somewhere in your good time, light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. We seek that light, we yearn for that joy. Make us more righteous, more upright in heart.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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