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 19, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
Deuteronomy 6:1-15
Hebrews 1:1-14
John 1:1-18

II. Selections
Psalm 82:1
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment ...

Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.

Hebrews 1:1-2a
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son ...

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

III. Meditation: You have taken your place

You are our God, you alone the one
who loves and claims us for your own;
but we are surrounded by would-be gods,
and to them we dedicate time and attention.

You have taken your place in the midst of our gods
as your Son became flesh and dwelled among us,
speaking your Word as the prophets had done,
full of truth and grace, and full of your glory.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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