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 06, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 67, 72, 100
Isaiah 49:1-7
Revelation 21:22-27
Matthew 12:14-21

II. Selections
Psalm 67:1-2
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power to all nations.

Isaiah 49:7
Thus says the LORD,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
the slave of rulers,
"Kings shall see and stand up,
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

Revelation 21:24
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

Matthew 12:18
"Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

III. Meditation: To shine upon us
God, we pray to you,
be gracious to us and bless us
and make your face to shine upon us.

How else
will the people upon earth know your way,
the nations your saving power?

How else
will the nations walk by your light
and bring you your glory?

You answer
that already you have
made your face shine upon us.

You gave us
your servant, your beloved,
with whom your soul was well pleased.

And he
was deeply despised, abhorred,
and treated as a slave.

But you chose him,
and you are faithful,
and some day, in your time, the nations will walk by his light.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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