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 12, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 40, 67, 122
Zechariah 1:7-17
Revelation 3:7-13
Matthew 24:15-31

II. Selections
Psalm 40:12
For evils have encompassed me
without number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
until I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.

Zechariah 1:11
Then they spoke to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace."

Revelation 3:8
"I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. ..."

Matthew 24:24
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

III. Meditation: An open door
False messiahs and false prophets appear and produce great signs and omens to lead your people astray. Evils have encompassed us without number; our iniquities have overtaken us, until we cannot see; they are more than the hairs of our heads, and our hearts fail us. God, you know our works. Give us a vision to penetrate our confusion. Let us see your angel, standing among the myrtle trees. Let us hear the words: "We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace." Those words do not describe the present time; but you have set before us an open door, which no one is able to shut. Lead us through it, working for the peace that only you can bring.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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