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 24, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 20, 88
Proverbs 8:1-21
Philemon 1-25
John 12:9-19

II. Selections
Psalm 6:1
O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger,
or discipline me in your wrath.

Proverbs 8:1
Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?

Philemon 7
I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.

John 12:16
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

III. Meditation: Wisdom calls
Wisdom calls, and understanding raises her voice;
yet there are many things we do not remember or understand
until we see them in the light of your glorification.

O God, do not rebuke me in your anger,
or discipline me in your wrath;
and let me not rebuke or discipline others in anger or in wrath.

Rather let me answer the call of wisdom and the voice of understanding,
that my love may be a source of joy and encouragement
to refresh the hearts of others.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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