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.

November 05, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
Ezra 6:1-22
Revelation 17:1-14
Matthew 14:22-36

II. Selections
Psalm 98:21-22
The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.

Ezra 6:22
With joy they celebrated the festival of unleavened bread seven days; for the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.

Revelation 17:13-14
" ...[ The ten kings] are united in yielding their power and authority to the beast; they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."

Matthew 14:22
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

III. Meditation: When the young lions roar
You have established a rhythm to life. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from you. When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. Your people suffer under oppression, but you turn the heart of their oppressor so that they worship you with joy. You feed your assembled people, but then you dismiss us to go back to the world in which we live. You permit the beast and its accomplices to have power and authority for a time, but you will conquer them; for you are Lord of lords and King of kings. You have called us, chosen us. Make us faithful, even when the young lions roar.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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