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 07, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 103, 117, 139
2 Kings 20:1-21
Acts 12:1-17
Luke 7:11-17

II. Selections
Psalm 103:6
The LORD works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.

2 Kings 20:2
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD ...

Acts 12:5
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw [ the widow whose only son had just died], he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."

III. Meditation: For all who are oppressed

You see with eyes of compassion the poor and oppressed,
and you work vindication and justice for them, as Jesus
had compassion for the widow whose only son had died.
When we turn our face to the wall and weep, may our
prayers be not for ourselves only, but for the oppressed.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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