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.

April 16, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Exodus 12:1-14
Isaiah 51:9-11
Luke 24:13-35

II. Selections
Psalm 136:1
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Exodus 12:14
This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

Isaiah 51:11
So the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Luke 24:31
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

III. Meditation: A day of remembrance, a festival of celebration
This day is a day of remembrance for us;
we celebrate it as a festival to you.
We give you thanks,
for you are good,
for your steadfast love endures forever.

Open our eyes, that we may recognize you;
even if you then vanish from our sight.

May we whom you have ransomed return to you,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon our heads;
we shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)