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 29, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Genesis 18:16-33
Galatians 5:13-25
Mark 8:22-30

II. Selections
Psalm 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

Genesis 18:23
Then Abraham came near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.

Mark 8:25
Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

III. Meditation: Awake and see
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

Awake us to the fact that the line
dividing the righteous from the wicked
runs through the middle of our own souls.

Lord Jesus, you have the power
to restore our sight,
to make us see everything clearly.

Help us see that the freedom to which you have called us
is not an opportunity for self-indulgence,
but freedom to become slaves to one another.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)