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 30, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 4, 15, 48
Deuteronomy 4:25-31
2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17
Luke 15:1-2, 11-32

II. Selections
Psalm 15:1
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Deuteronomy 4:29
From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul.

2 Corinthians 2:4
For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Luke 15:17
" ...But when [ the younger son] came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! ... '" [ Jesus, to the Pharisees and scribes]

III. Meditation: Out of much distress

The invitation to abide in your tent,
to dwell on your holy hill, surprises us.

Often it comes to us out of our distress
and anguish of heart, and with many tears-

we come to ourselves, recognize our hunger,
and realize the abundant love you have for us;

we search after you with all our heart and soul
and find you, waiting for us, with bread to spare.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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