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 21, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 17, 50, 53
2 Samuel 7:1-17
Titus 2:11-3:8a
Luke 1:39-56

II. Selections
Psalm 50:11
I know all the birds of the air,
and all that moves in the field is mine.

2 Samuel 7:5-6
Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all ...

Luke 1:46-48a
An Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. ..."

III. Meditation: All the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field
You know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is yours. No tent or tabernacle or temple can confine you; no land can contain you; yet you look with favor on the lowliest of your servants; your grace has appeared, bringing salvation to all. Our soul magnifies you and our spirit rejoices in you, God our Savior.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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