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 10, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 68, 113
Jeremiah 33:1-13
Romans 14:1-12
Luke 8:26-39

II. Selections
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah

Jeremiah 33:13
In the towns of the hill country, of the Shephelah, and of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.

Romans 14:4
Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Luke 8:32
Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.

III. Meditation: Our salvation

Blessed are you, O God.
As flocks pass under the hands
of the one who counts them,
so we pass under your hands.

Blessed are you, O God,
for you daily bear us up,
and uphold us,
and make us stand.

Jesus gave even the demons
permission to save themselves
by entering the herd of swine.
You are our salvation.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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