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 02, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 65, 91, 125
Judges 3:12-30
Acts 1:1-14
Matthew 27:45-54

II. Selections
Psalm 91:15
When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honor them.

Judges 3:20
Ehud came to [ King Eglon of Moab], while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, "I have a message from God for you." So he rose from his seat.

Acts 1:4a
While staying with [ the apostles], [ the risen Jesus] ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.

Matthew 27:46
And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

III. Meditation: Your answer when we call

When we call, promises the psalmist, you will answer us;
when we are in trouble, you will be with us;
you will rescue and honor us.

Jesus called-cried out with a loud voice-
asked why you had forsaken him.
Did he receive your answer?

Ehud claimed to have a message from you for King Eglon,
but the message he delivered was a two-sided sword
thrust into the King's enormous belly.

Ehud's promise to Eglon was full of deceit;
your promise to us was full of compassion,
but was Jesus excluded from it?

No, you did not desert Jesus, and will not desert us;
though we may have to wait in Jerusalem
for what you have promised to deliver.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)