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 19, 2006

I. Readings
Psalm 33, 85, 94
Isaiah 11:10-16
Revelation 20:1-10
John 5:30-47

II. Selections
Psalm 94:16
Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?

Isaiah 11:13
The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
the hostility of Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.

Revelation 20:4a-b
Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God.

John 5:44
How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?

III. Meditation: Who rises up against the wicked? ;

We are pleased to accept glory from one another,
but we fail to seek the glory that comes from you.

Our kind of glorification leads to jealousy and hostility;
it makes us afraid to rise up for you against the wicked.

Some, though, have dared to seek the glory that comes from you,
have stood up against evildoers, have even died for you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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