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 11, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
2 Kings 23:4-25
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Matthew 9:18-26

II. Selections
Psalm 16:11
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

2 Kings 23:25
Before [ Josiah] there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

1 Corinthians 12:7
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Matthew 9:24
...[ Jesus] said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

III. Meditation: And they laughed

You give to each the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good,
but we do not always accept the gift.
You show us the path of life, with fullness of joy, pleasures forevermore;
and we stumble away from the path.
You give us leaders who turn to you with all their heart, mind, and soul;
we do not accept their leadership.
You show us miracles of life conquering death;
we laugh them away.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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