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 25, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 2, 96, 98
Micah 4:1-5; 5:2-4
1 John 4:7-16
John 3:31-36

II. Selections
Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.

Micah 5:4a
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

1 John 4:9
God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.

John 3:31
The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

III. Meditation: Into the world
Your love was revealed among us in this way: You sent your only Son into the world so that we might live through him. He stood and fed his flock in your strength, in the majesty of your name. You come from heaven and are above all; we are of the earth and belong to the earth and speak about earthly things. Therefore it is right that we should worship you in holy splendor, and that all the earth should tremble before you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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