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 04, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 20, 93, 97
Joshua 3:14-4:7
Ephesians 5:1-20
John 9:1-12, 35-38

II. Selections
Psalm 20:1
The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!

Joshua 3:17
While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 9:2
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

III. Meditation: In the day of trouble
The relation between sin and suffering bewilders us still,
but this much we know:
In the day of trouble, you have answered us,
your name protected us.
The priests bore your ark and secured the Jordan crossing.

And we know Jesus bore the cross and gave himself up for us,
a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you.
Therefore you call us to imitate your love,
as children imitate a loving parent,
and live in love, as Christ loved us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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