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 15, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Leviticus 16:1-19
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

II. Selections
Psalm 97:2
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Leviticus 16:15-16a
[ Aaron] shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins ...

1 Thessalonians 4:14
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

Matthew 6:6
But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward you.

III. Meditation: In secret
Mysterious God,
throned upon righteousness,
established upon justice;
but hidden,
hidden by clouds and thick darkness.

Sprinkled upon the mercy seat, blood of bull;
inside the curtain, blood of goat of sin offering;
for atonement,
because of uncleannesses and transgressions and sins,
atonement.

Death and resurrection and bringing us
with him who died and rose again;
mystery;
and in secret, before the mystery,
we pray to you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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