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 14, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Jeremiah 36:1-10
Acts 14:8-18
Luke 7:36-50

II. Selections
Psalm 81:5c-6
I hear a voice I had not known:
"I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket. ... "

Jeremiah 36:2
Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. [ To Jeremiah from the LORD]

Acts 14:15b
" ...We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news ... " [ Barnabas and Paul, to the crowd who thought they were gods]

Luke 7:50
And [ Jesus] said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

III. Meditation: Also for us

A voice we had not known
tells us of relief from burdens
and freedom from the basket.

A scroll records your words
spoken against the nations.

Two apostles claim mortality
as they bring good news.

Jesus reassures a sinful woman
that her faith has saved her.
These are messages for us, too.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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