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.

May 01, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 66, 98, 116
Jeremiah 30:10-17
Colossians 1:15-23
Luke 6:12-26

II. Selections
Psalm 116:4
Then I called on the name of the LORD;
"O LORD, I pray, save my life!"

Jeremiah 30:10a-b
But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, says the LORD,
and do not be dismayed, O Israel;
for I am going to save you from far away,
and your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Colossians 1:19
[ The Son] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation ...

Luke 6:26
" ...Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. ... " [ Jesus preaching to the multitude]

III. Meditation: What brings woe

O God, save our life!

Full of fear and dismay, we call on your name,
and on the name of Jesus your Son-who warns us
not to fear threats and abuse, but rather to fear when all
speak well of us. (False prophets have ever been praised.)

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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