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 14, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 51, 65, 142
1 Kings 18:20-40
Philippians 3:1-16
Matthew 3:1-12

II. Selections
Psalms 142:2
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

1 Kings 18:22
Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets number four hundred fifty. ... "

Philippians 3:1
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard.

Matthew 3:8
" ...Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ... " [ John the Baptizer to Pharisees and Saudducees]

III. Meditation: Less complaining, more rejoicing

We are prone to bring our complaints
and tell all our troubles before you.
For this there is a time and a place;
but Paul's reminder is a safeguard:
above all, we need to rejoice in you.
(And then to repent and bear fruit,
even if outnumbered 450 to one.)

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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