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 27, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 34, 121
Proverbs 8:22-30
1 John 5:1-12
John 13:20-35

II. Selections
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Proverbs 8:25-26
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth-
when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world's first bits of soil.

1 John 5:9
If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.

John 13:33a
Little children, I am with you only a little longer.

III. Meditation: Continually in our mouth
What is eternal:
Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills-your Wisdom.
Before the earth and the fields, or the first bits of soil-you.

What is fleeting:
Human relations,
even your earthly presence with your disciples.

What endures:
Your testimony,
the testimony that you have testified to your Son.

What is for us to do at all times:
Bless you,
with your praise continually in our mouth.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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