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 26, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 68, 113
Daniel 5:13-20
1 John 5:13-21
Luke 5:1-11

II. Selections
Psalms 113:3
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

Daniel 5:20
" ...But when [ Nebuchadnezzar's] heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was stripped from him. ... " [ Daniel to King Belshazzar]

1 John 5:14
And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Luke 5:11
When [ Peter, James, and John] had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed [ Jesus].

III. Meditation: Marks of discipleship

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
we praise your name, not our own;
we ask according to your will;
we leave all to follow you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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