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 16, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Daniel 1:1-21
1 John 1:1-10
John 17:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

John 17:3
" ...And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ... " [ Jesus praying for his disciples]

III. Meditation: No darkness at all

You are light; in you there is no darkness at all.
Glory belongs to you, not to us, for you are full
of steadfast love and faithfulness, we are not.

We defile ourselves, not by our food and drink,
but by separating ourselves from you, true God,
and from Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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