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 17, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 81, 116, 143
Nehemiah 9:1-25
Revelation 21:22-22:5
Matthew 18:1-9

II. Selections
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.

Nehemiah 9:15
For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven, and for their thirst you brought water for them out of the rock, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you swore to give them.

Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Matthew 18:7
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!

III. Meditation: A level path, and no stumbling blocks
Bountiful God, for their hunger you gave your people bread from heaven, and for their thirst you brought water for them out of the rock, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you swore to give them. You promised that your people will have no need of sun or moon to shine on them, for your glory will be their light, and their lamp will be the Lamb. Let your light shine on us, and teach us to do your will, for you are our God. Let your good spirit lead us on a level path, free from stumbling blocks; and forbid that we should leave stumbling blocks for others.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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