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 03, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 132, 134
2 Kings 18:9-25
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Matthew 7:13-21

II. Selections
Psalm 96:1
O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Kings 18:20
" ...Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me? ... " [ The Rabshakeh to Hezekiah's representatives]

1 Corinthians 8:6
...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Matthew 7:13
" ...Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. ... " [ Jesus, sitting on the mountain]

III. Meditation: The old song, the new song

Many have sung the old song,
the song of power and greed;
many enter by the wide gate,
the easy road to destruction.

You have given a new song,
a song of the narrow gate,
a song of you and Jesus,
through whom we exist.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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