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.

October 01, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 9, 62, 73
2 Kings 17:24-41
1 Corinthians 7:25-31
Matthew 6:25-34

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

2 Kings 17:33
So [ the peoples the king of Assyria brought in to resettle Samaria] worshiped the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

1 Corinthians 7:31b
For the present form of this world is passing away.

Matthew 6:34
" ...So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today. ... " [ Jesus, sitting on the mountain]

III. Meditation: Our salvation comes from you

In silence our souls wait for you,
for our salvation comes from you.

We would not worry about tomorrow,
for today's trouble is enough for today;
the form of this world is passing away.

We would not worship other gods
along with you, after the manner
of the cultures that surround us;
our salvation comes from you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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