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 10, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 66, 98, 116
Isaiah 30:18-26
Acts 2:36-47
John 14:15-31

II. Selections
Psalm 98:3
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

Acts 2:46-47a
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the good will of all the people.

John 14:18
" ...I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Your victory

All the ends of the earth have seen your victory,
your steadfast love and faithfulness to your people;
for you are a God of justice, who waits to be gracious;
and you rise up and show mercy to all who wait for you.

You will not leave us orphaned, Lord; you will come to us.
We your people eat our food with glad, generous hearts;
gather together to worship and wait for your coming;
and praise your name for your victory over death.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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