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 14, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124, 145
Deuteronomy 8:1-10
James 1:1-15
Luke 9:18-27

II. Selections
Psalm 115:11
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and shield.

Deuteronomy 8:7a
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land ...

James 1:2-3
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance ...

Luke 9:24
" ...For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. ... " [ Jesus to his twelve disciples]

III. Meditation: Three paradoxes

If we fear you, we must trust you,
for you will bring us into a good land.

We should consider it a joy to face trials,
for the testing of faith produces endurance.

Those who want to save their life will lose it;
those who lose their life for your sake will save it.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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