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 16, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 102, 130
Zechariah 7:8-8:8
Revelation 5:6-14
Matthew 25:14-30

II. Selections
Psalm 102:2a
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.

Zechariah 8:6
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the LORD of hosts?

Revelation 5:12
...singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

Matthew 25:18
But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

III. Meditation: Song for a hole-digger
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. I am a hole-digger, burying out of sight the opportunities you present to me, always the pessimist. Teach me that because a thing seems impossible to me is no reason it should seem impossible to you. And teach me to sing with a full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" It is a good song for a hole-digger like me to sing.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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