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.

May 14, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36
Hebrews 12:1-14
Luke 4:16-30

II. Selections
Psalm 93:4
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
more majestic than the waves of the sea,
majestic on high is the LORD!

Leviticus 8:31
And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, "Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I was commanded, 'Aaron and his sons shall eat it' ..."

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us ...

Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor ..." [ Jesus, reading from Isaiah]

III. Meditation: Majestic on high
Moses, who experienced your majesty,
ordained Aaron and the sons of Aaron
to be your priests.

Jesus, who knew your majesty,
announced his mission to the poor and oppressed
by identifying with Isaiah's suffering servant.

We, surrounded by a cloud of witnesses to your majesty,
must lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely
and run with perseverance the race set before us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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