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.

December 01, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 25, 40, 84
Zechariah 14:1-11
Romans 15:7-13
Luke 19:28-40

II. Selections
Psalm 40:4
Happy are those who make
the LORD their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.

Zechariah 14:9
And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 19:31
" ...If anyone asks you, 'Why are untying [ the colt]?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.' " [ Jesus to two of his disciples]

III. Meditation: Happy are those

When you become king over all the earth-
the day when you are one and your name is one-
surely then we will make you our trust.

But perhaps we need not wait for that day;
perhaps, in fact, that day has already come.
Today, we can trust you with our lives.

Today, forbid that we should turn to the proud,
or go astray when we know you need something;
Today may we be happy trusting you.

Fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
that by the power of your Holy Spirit
we may abound in hope, and live in trust.

No comments:

Post a Comment