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 30, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 81, 116, 143
1 Kings 3:16-28
Acts 27:27-44
Mark 14:12-26

II. Selections
Psalm 116:6
The LORD protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

1 Kings 3:26a
But the woman whose son was alive said to the king-because compassion for her son burned within her-"Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!"

Acts 27:43b-44
[ The centurion] ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

Mark 14:22
While they were eating, [ Jesus] took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."

III. Meditation: Simply saved

The woman-brought low by despair-
made a simple plea to King Solomon
for her son's life. He was saved.

The centurion gave a simple order
to all aboard the sinking ship;
all reached land safely.

Jesus, facing death, blessed and broke
a simple loaf of bread; he gave it
to his disciples; we are saved.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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