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.

December 02, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 102, 130, 148
Amos 5:1-17
Jude 1-16
Matthew 22:1-14

II. Selections
Psalm 102:26-27
[ The foundation of the earth and the heavens] will perish, but you endure;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You change them like clothing, and they pass away;
but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Amos 5:8
The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name ...

Jude 2
May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Matthew 22:9
Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.

III. Meditation: In abundance
The earth and the heavens will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away; but you are the same, and your years have no end. You it was who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth. How extraordinary, how wonderful that you have invited us to the wedding banquet. In your grace, give us wisdom to accept the invitation, for at your table are mercy, peace, and love in abundance.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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