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.

January 03, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 15, 107, 111
1 Kings 19:9-18
Ephesians 4:17-32
John 6:15-27

II. Selections
Psalm 15:4c
...who stand by their oath even to their hurt ...

1 Kings 19:9b
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Ephesians 4:25
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.

John 6:17b
It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

III. Meditation: What are you doing here?
It was dark,
and you had not yet come to us.

Then we heard your word:
What are you doing here?
Stand by your oath
even to your hurt;
put away falsehood,
speak the truth to your neighbors,
for you are members of one another.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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