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.

July 25, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 4, 15, 48, 147:1-11
1 Samuel 25:23-44
Acts 14:19-28
Mark 4:35-41

II. Selections
Psalm 48:10
Your name, O God, like your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.

1 Samuel 25:33
" ...Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand! ... " [ David to Abigail]

Acts 14:19
But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

Mark 4:40
[ Jesus] said to [ the disciples], "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"

III. Meditation: Good sense, faith, and courage

Remind us of the courage of Paul,
who was stoned and left for dead.

Give us the good sense of Abigail,
that we do not avenge ourselves.

Grant us sufficient faith
in the power of your right hand,
that we do not fear.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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