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 23, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Haggai 1:1-2:9
Acts 18:24-19:7
Luke 10:25-37

II. Selections
Psalm 108:13
With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.

Haggai 2:4-5
Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.

Acts 19:4-5
Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 10:27-28
[ The lawyer] answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And [ Jesus] said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

III. Meditation: Take courage
We have been baptized in your name, Lord Jesus. Let your Spirit abide among us, that we may take courage and not fear. If you are with us we shall do valiantly; it is you who will tread down all that separates us from you. Only if you are with us can we love you with heart, mind, and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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