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 17, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 103, 117, 139
Exodus 6:2-13; 7:1-6
Revelation 15:1-8
Matthew 18:1-14

II. Selections
Psalm 103:6
The LORD works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.

Exodus 6:12
But Moses spoke to the LORD, "The Israelites have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?"

Revelation 15:3
And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
"Great and amazing are your deeds,
Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations! ... "

Matthew 18:14
" ...So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. ... "

III. Meditation: Defender of the defenseless

You are a defender of the defenseless-
little children, all who are oppressed-
and your ways are just and true.
We should not doubt that you
will help us if we also work
to defend the defenseless.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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