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 19, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 9, 99, 118
Exodus 12:40-51
1 Corinthians 15:29-41
Matthew 28:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 9:19
Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations be judged before you.

Exodus 12:42
That was for the LORD a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil to be kept for the LORD by all the Israelites throughout their generations.

1 Corinthians 15:36
Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

Matthew 28:9
Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

III. Meditation: Night of vigil
Rise up, O God!
Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations
be judged before you.
You have kept
your night of vigil;
help us keep ours.

To come to life,
a seed must die.
Jesus died
and came to life,
and his disciples
took hold of his feet
and worshiped him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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