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 05, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 40, 67, 122
Amos 7:1-9
Revelation 1:1-8
Matthew 22:23-33

II. Selections
Psalm 122:6-8
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers."
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you."

Amos 7:4-5
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: the Lord GOD was calling for a shower of fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. Then I said, "O Lord GOD, cease, I beg you! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!"

Revelation 1:4a
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come ...

Matthew 22:29
Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. ..."

III. Meditation: How can Jacob stand? He is so small!
With foreboding we sense that our world may be headed for a shower of fire, a fire that would devour the great deep and eat up the land. We pray you, do not let this come to pass. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and we pray for the peace of the world, that those who love it may find prosperity and peace and security. For the sake of our relatives and friends, for the sake of all your children, we pray for peace. We-who understand neither the scriptures nor your power-pray for peace. To you we pray, the One who is and who was and who is to come, to you we pray for grace and peace.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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