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 09, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 72, 80, 90
Isaiah 4:2-6
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Luke 21:5-19

II. Selections
Psalm 90:16
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.

Isaiah 4:5a
Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night.

1 Thessalonians 4:14
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

Luke 21:5-6
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [ Jesus] said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."

III. Meditation: Manifest

The things we see,
though solid as stone,
will be thrown down.
What endures is your work-
may it be manifest to us,
and your glorious power to our children.

Create over us a cloud by day,
a fire by night, to lead us.
Create in us a sure trust in Jesus,
who died and rose again,
that we who die
will always be with him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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