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 28, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 27, 51
Deuteronomy 9:13-21
Hebrews 3:12-19
John 2:23-3:15

II. Selections
Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.

Deuteronomy 9:13
Furthermore the LORD said to me, "I have seen that this people is indeed a stubborn people. ... " [ Moses to the people of Israel]

Hebrews 3:15
As it is said,
"Today, if you hear his voice
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

John 3:8
" ...The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." [ Jesus to Nicodemus]

III. Meditation: Born of your Spirit

Blow your breath upon us,
that we may be born of your Spirit;
for we are a stubborn people,
hearts hardened in rebellion against you.

According to your steadfast love,
have mercy on your stubborn people;
of your abundant mercy, blot out
our transgressions and make us new.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)