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 22, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 18:1-20, 62, 126
2 Samuel 7:18-29
Galatians 3:1-14
Luke 1:57-66

II. Selections
Psalm 18:1
I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 Samuel 7:18
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ..."

Galatians 3:4
Did you experience so much for nothing?-if it really was for nothing.

Luke 1:64
Immediately [ Zechariah's] mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.

III. Meditation: Who am I, and what is my house?
I love you, O God, my strength. Who am I, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? I have every reason to give you thanks, but who would know this from my words or actions? Has all that I have experienced been for nothing? Open my mouth and free my tongue, that I may begin praising you, O Lord God, my strength.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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