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.

July 14, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 40, 84
Deuteronomy 31:7-13, 24-32:4
Romans 10:1-13
Matthew 24:15-31

II. Selections
Psalm 84:1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!

Deuteronomy 32:4
The Rock, his work is perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God, without deceit,
just and upright is he ...

Romans 10:1
Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for [ Israel] is that they may be saved.

Matthew 24:31
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

III. Meditation: From one end of heaven to the other

O God our Rock, your work is perfect,
and all your ways are just;
you are faithful and without deceit.
We know your dwelling place is lovely,
and it is our heart's desire
that all those dear to us should be with you.

Will you not send out your angels
with a loud trumpet call,
and from the four winds
gather them in,
from one end of heaven
to the other?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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