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 16, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 130, 139
Isaiah 65:17-25
1 Timothy 5:1-25
Mark 12:28-34

II. Selections
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Isaiah 65:24
Before [ my people] call I will answer
while they are yet speaking I will hear.

1 Timothy 5:25
So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.

Mark 12:31
" ...The second [ commandment] is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' ... " [ Jesus to a scribe who asked him which commandment was the first of all]

III. Meditation: Counsel us

God, before we even call, you answer;
before we have finished speaking, you hear.
Instruct us, teach us the way we should go;
with your eye upon us, counsel us.

You have told us to love our neighbor,
but how shall we show our love?
Teach us the worth of hidden good works-
we rely too much upon the conspicuous.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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