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 15, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 102, 130
Isaiah 7:10-25
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
Luke 22:14-30

II. Selections
Psalm 16:4
Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out.

Isaiah 7:23
On that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns.

2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Luke 22:19a
Then [ Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body ... "

III. Meditation: Briers and thorns

We multiply our sorrows when we choose any god but you,
when we substitute briers and thorns for the living vine.
You who offered your body, shed your blood-
direct our hearts to your steadfastness
and to the love of God.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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