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 13, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
Genesis 30:1-24
1 John 1:1-10
John 9:1-17

II. Selections
Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in his commandments.

Genesis 30:1
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!"

1 John 1:7
...but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

John 9:4-5
" ...We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

III. Meditation: Delight or envy
We praise you, God.
Happy are those who fear you,
who greatly delight in your commandments.

You sent Jesus to be our light,
that we may learn to walk in his light,
and have fellowship with one another.

Without your saving presence
our fellowship fails,
and like Rachel we are filled with envy.

Envy drives away happiness
and delight,
and we walk in darkness.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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