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 14, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 57, 85
Ezra 7:27-28; 8:21-36
Revelation 20:7-15
Matthew 17:1-13

II. Selections
Psalms 57:6
Will you not revive us again,
so that your people may rejoice in you?

Ezra 7:28b
I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

Revelation 20:7-8
When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea.

Matthew 17:11-12a
[ Jesus] replied, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased.

III. Meditation: Elijah is coming and has come
We live between the times. Elijah has already come, and he is coming to restore all things. Evil still deceives the nations and gathers them to battle good. Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? Let us feel your hand upon us as we draw together, that we may take courage to stand against evil in our life between the times.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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