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 29, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
Numbers 17:1-11
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 20:17-28

II. Selections
Psalms 80:19
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Numbers 17:5
And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout; thus I will put a stop to the complaints of the Israelites that they continually make against you.

Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus ...

Matthew 20:21
And [ Jesus] said to [ the mother of the sons of Zebedee], "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."

III. Meditation: What we want, and what we need

What we want is prestige and power and privilege,
or to be restored to our former station,
or at least the chance to complain.

What we need is peace with you
through our Lord Jesus.

Let your face shine,
and save us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)