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 15, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 18:1-20, 62, 126
Zechariah 4:1-14
Revelation 4:9-5:5
Matthew 25:1-13

II. Selections
Psalm 62:5
For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.

Zechariah 4:5
Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."

Revelation 4:11
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

Matthew 25:1-2
"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ..."

III. Meditation: Oil for our lamps
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. We are not like you; our eyes are not even able to comprehend the things you show us. Perhaps that is because we have too much in common with the foolish bridesmaids-we busy ourselves with our daily routine and forget to buy oil for our lamps. Where is our hope if not from you? Teach our souls to wait for you in silence, that our lamps may be ready.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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