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.

October 16, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
Hosea 11:12-12:1
Acts 26:1-23
Luke 8:26-39

II. Selections
Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious.

Hosea 12:1
Ephraim herds the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a treaty with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.

Acts 26:9
" ...Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ... " [ Paul, defending himself before King Agrippa]

Luke 8:38-39a
The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you."

III. Meditation: In pursuit of the wind

We praise you, O God, for you are good;
we sing to your name, for you are gracious.
But sometimes when we beg to be with you,
you send us away to tell others your goodness.

And sometimes we convince ourselves
we should do things against your name:
we herd the wind, pursue the east wind,
multiply falsehood and violence. Forgive us!

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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