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 12, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 68, 113
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Acts 3:11-26
John 15:12-27

II. Selections
Psalm 113:4
The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens.

Ezekiel 37:9b
" ...Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that thy may live." [ God telling Ezekiel what to prophesy]

Acts 3:12
When Peter saw [ the crowd running to see the man who had been healed], he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ... "

John 15:12
" ...This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ... " [ Jesus at table with his disciples the night he was betrayed]


III. Meditation: The miracle of love

You are high above all nations;
your glory is above the heavens.
Not by our own power or piety
do miracles happen, but by yours.

Breathe upon us with your Spirit,
that we who are spiritually dead
may learn the miracle of how to
love one another as you love us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)