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 26, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 4, 15, 48
Joshua 8:30-35
Romans 14:13-23
Matthew 26:57-68

II. Selections
Psalm 4:7
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.

Joshua 8:35
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 26:64
Jesus said to [ the high priest], "You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven."

III. Meditation: Gladness in my heart

Gladness in our hearts comes in different forms to different people.
For some, it is when their grain and wine abound;
for others, not food and drink,
but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Make us attentive to your Word-
women and men, little ones, and foreigners in our midst-
as we await your coming,
whether that be on the clouds of heaven, or in the gladness of our hearts.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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