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.

February 03, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 40, 84
Genesis 24:1-27
Hebrews 12:3-11
John 7:1-13

II. Selections
Psalm 84:2
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Genesis 24:26-27
The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master's kin."

Hebrews 12:11
Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

John 7:12
And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, "He is a good man", others were saying, "No, he is deceiving the crowd."

III. Meditation: Though we argue and complain
Though we argue with one another about you,
though we complain, teach us to endure your discipline.
It may seem painful rather than pleasant at the time,
but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Our soul longs, indeed it faints to worship you;
our heart and our flesh sing for joy to you, the living God.
You have not forsaken your steadfast love and faithfulness.
You have led us on our way; we bless your name.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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