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.

April 08, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Exodus 12:1-14
Isaiah 51:9-11
Luke 24:13-35

II. Selections
Psalm 136:23
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever ...

Exodus 12:14
This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

Isaiah 51:11
So the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Luke 24:32
[ Cleopas and his companion] said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"

III. Meditation: Remembrance

We walk the road to Emmaus;
talk to us on our journey.
Make our hearts burn within us;
open the scriptures to us.

You have remembered us in our low estate,
for your steadfast love endures forever;
and we shall remember this day,
and celebrate it as a festival.

Observing it dispels sorrow
and brings us joy and gladness.
On this day we return to you, to Zion;
we sing with everlasting joy upon our heads.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)