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.

August 03, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 6, 20, 88
2 Samuel 5:1-12
Acts 17:1-15
Mark 7:24-37

II. Selections
Psalm 20:7-8
Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.
They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.

2 Samuel 5:10
And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

Acts 17:3
...explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you." [ Paul to the Jews in the temple of Thessalonica]

Mark 7:37
They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "[ Jesus] has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

III. Meditation: You were with them

David became greater and greater;
not because of chariots or horses,
but because you were with him.

And you were with Jesus-
he who did everything well,
but who had to suffer and die.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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