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 19, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 130, 139
Isaiah 45:18-25
Ephesians 6:1-9
Mark 4:35-41

II. Selections
Psalm 32:6
Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.

Isaiah 45:19
I did not speak in secret,
in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
"Seek me in chaos."
I the LORD speak the truth,
I declare what is right.

Ephesians 6:9
And masters, do the same to [ your slaves]. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.

Mark 4:39a
[ Jesus] woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!"

III. Meditation: Peace! Be still!

In a time of distress, when we fear the rush of mighty waters,
we offer our prayer to you. Do you not care if we perish?

You do care, for us and for all-with you there is no partiality;
but we should not wait until chaos is upon us to seek you.

To be faithful we must offer prayer to you in good times and bad;
for you speak the truth; you declare what is right; in you we find peace.

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