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 29, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Jonah 1:1-17a
1 Corinthians 10:15-24
Matthew 18:15-20

II. Selections
Psalm 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

Jonah 1:3
But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

1 Corinthians 10:24
Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other.

Matthew 18:19
" ...Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ... "

III. Meditation: Awake, my soul.

To escape your commands
we flee from your presence;
we seek our own advantage,
not that of the other.

Wake us up, O God!
Give us steadfast hearts,
hearts that sing with joy,
hearts that join others in prayer.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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