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.

June 22, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
Numbers 12:1-16
Romans 2:12-24
Matthew 18:10-20

II. Selections
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

Numbers 12:2
...and [ Miriam and Aaron] said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.

Romans 2:16
...on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.

Matthew 18:12
What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

III. Meditation: How shall we picture you?

How shall we picture you?
Irate, even petulant defender of Moses
against affronts by his sister and brother?
The One who hears and will judge our secret thoughts? ;
Our refuge, whom we can trust at all times
and to whom we pour out our hearts?
The compassionate shepherd, who searches us out
when we wander astray, and rejoices to find us?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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