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 26, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80, 147:12-20
1 Samuel 28:3-20
Acts 15:1-11
Mark 5:1-20

II. Selections
Psalms 80:1
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!

1 Samuel 28:6
When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, not by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.

Acts 15:10
" ...Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? ... " [ Peter speaking at the Jerusalem council, against the need for Gentile circumcision]

Mark 5:19
But Jesus refused, and said to [ the former demoniac], "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you."

III. Meditation: Give ear

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!

We want to place on the neck of others
burdens that we ourselves fail to bear.

Then we inquire of you,
and you don't answer.

We complain, but perhaps first
we need to tell others
what you have done already.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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