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 25, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 49, 96, 138
Ezekiel 34:17-31
Hebrews 8:1-13
Luke 10:38-42

II. Selections
Psalm 49:3
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

Ezekiel 34:27
The trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase. [ My flock] shall be secure on their soil; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and save them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

Hebrews 8:5a
[ Earthly priests] offer worship in a sanctuary that is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly one ...

Luke 10:41
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things ..."

III. Meditation: Worried and distracted

Although worried and distracted
we come to the place we worship you-
a mere sketch and shadow of the heavenly place-
yet may the meditation of our hearts bring understanding,
and may our mouths speak wisdom. Break the bars of our yoke,
save us from what enslaves us, that we may know you are the LORD.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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