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.

June 02, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 111, 118
Deuteronomy 5:22-33
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10
Luke 16:19-31

II. Selections
Psalm 56:13
For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

Deuteronomy 5:32
You must therefore be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn to the right or to the left.

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

Luke 16:25
" ...But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.' ... "

III. Meditation: Our soul from death, our feet from falling

In this life we have received many good things,
and the poor of the world many evil things.
We have not been careful to heed your commands,
but have turned left and right from your path.
Still, though our outer nature is wasting away,
we pray you to renew our inner nature day by day.
Deliver our soul from death, our feet from falling,
so that we may walk before you, the Light of Life.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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