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 23, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
1 Samuel 4:1b-11
Acts 4:32-5:11
Luke 21:20-28

II. Selections
Psalm 104:13
From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

1 Samuel 4:11
The ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Acts 5:5
Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it.

Luke 21:26
People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

III. Meditation: The fruit of your work

Many people fear you-fear what you may do to punish them.
The sons of Eli acted wickedly; Ananias held back money and lied;
but I shudder to think you meted out the death penalty for their offenses.
There is reason to faint from fear and foreboding about the future;
yet I believe most catastrophes are human, not divine, in origin.

Your intention for us is not punishment,
but that the earth will be satisfied
with the fruit of your work.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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