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 16, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 46, 67, 93
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14
Acts 16:6-15
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

II. Selections
Psalm 93:1b-2
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.

Jeremiah 29:11
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Acts 16:10
When [ Paul] had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

Luke 10:18
[ Jesus] said to [ his disciples], "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.

III. Meditation: A future with hope
You have established the world, O everlasting God. You call your disciples to your service, and when they respond, it is as if Satan falls from heaven. You know the plans you have for us, plans for our welfare and plans for the welfare of others. Make us eager to answer your call, that all may enjoy a future with hope.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)