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.

January 07, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 29, 104, 150
Isaiah 40:1-11
Hebrews 1:1-12
John 1:1-7, 19-20, 29-34

II. Selections
Psalm 104:1-2a
Bless the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
wrapped in light as with a garment.

Isaiah 40:1
Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.

Hebrews 1:3a
[ God's Son] is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

III. Meditation: Wrapped in light

Great God, wrapped in light as with a garment,
you have given us Christ, who reflects your light,
a light that shines in the darkness,
that the darkness does not overcome.

O Lord my God, you are very great;
you sustain all things by your Word;
sustain your people, in time of need;
comfort, O, comfort your people.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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