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 29, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 97, 132
Isaiah 12:1-6
Revelation 1:1-8
John 7:37-52

II. Selections
Psalm 97:12
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Revelation 1:8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

John 7:38b
" ...As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" [ Jesus, to the crowd at the festival]

III. Meditation: Who is and who was and who is to come

O God who is and who was and who is to come:

We rejoice in you
and give you thanks
for your wells of salvation,
from which we may draw water.

With your living water
fill our hearts to overflowing,
that from them may spring rivers-
O, Almighty God, our Alpha and Omega.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)