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 25, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
1 Samuel 5:1-12
Acts 5:12-26
Luke 21:29-36

II. Selections
Psalm 135:3
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for he is gracious.

1 Samuel 5:11b-12
For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city [ of Ekron]. The hand of God was very heavy there; those who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Acts 5:19-20
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought [ the apostles] out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life."

Luke 21:36
" ...Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Your heavy hand

We praise you because you are good;
we sing to your name, for you are gracious.
But if you are good and gracious,
what makes your hand so heavy upon us?
Our cry goes up to heaven.

Open the doors of our prison and bring us out;
teach us the whole message about life with you.
Keep us alert at all times, praying for strength
to escape the disasters that may lie ahead of us,
and strength to stand before you, O Son of Man.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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