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.

September 13, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
1 Kings 18:1-19
Philippians 2:12-30
Matthew 2:13-23

II. Selections
Psalm 62:1
For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.

1 Kings 18:18
[ Elijah] answered [ King Ahab], "I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father's house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. ... "
Philippians 2:12b-13
...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

III. Meditation: For your good pleasure

In silence our soul waits for you,
who are the source of our salvation;
for you are at work in us, enabling us
to will and work for your good pleasure.

When power resides in evil hands
the good are often blamed for trouble.
Then, we pray, be at work in us, enabling
us to will and to work for your good pleasure.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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