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.

February 01, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
Isaiah 54:1-17
Galatians 5:1-15
Mark 8:27-9:1

II. Selections
Psalm 116:12
What shall I return to the LORD
for all his bounty to me?

Isaiah 54:5
For your Maker is your husband,
the LORD of hosts is his name;
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.

Galatians 5:5-6
For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

Mark 8:38
" ...Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: What shall we return?

What shall we return to you
for all your bounty to us?

You are God of the whole earth,
LORD of hosts,
the Holy One of Israel.

You are our Maker,
our Redeemer,
and like a husband to us.

You have given us Jesus-
how can we be ashamed of him,
or of his words? ;

You have given us your Spirit,
through whom we eagerly await
the hope of righteousness.

What shall we return to you?
The only thing that counts-
faith working through love.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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