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 23, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 22, 105, 130
Deuteronomy 7:12-16
Titus 2:1-15
John 1:35-42

II. Selections
Psalm 22:9
Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother's breast.

Deuteronomy 7:16
You shall devour all the peoples that the LORD your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity; you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.

Titus 2:1
But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.

John 1:38a
When Jesus turned and saw [ Andrew and his brother Simon] following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?"

III. Meditation: What I am looking for

When I try to follow you,
if you ask me what I'm looking for,
I will answer that it is you who took me
from the womb, kept me safe at Mother's breast;
I am looking for what is consistent with that kind of love.
To devour without pity all the peoples you give us does not qualify.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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