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.

August 01, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 28, 54, 99
Judges 2:1-5, 11-23
Romans 16:17-27
Matthew 27:32-44

II. Selections
Psalm 54:2
Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.

Judges 2:13
[ The Israelites] abandoned the LORD, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes.

Romans 16:27
...to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Matthew 27:39-40
Those who passed by derided [ Jesus], shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

III. Meditation: We abandon you

We abandon you, worship other gods;
then plead with you to give ear
to the words of our mouth.
Forgive us.

For our sake you have been weak;
and we shake our heads at you,
consider you a failure.
Forgive us.

Forgive us, for in our hearts we know
you are the only wise God,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever! Amen.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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