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 21, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 46, 67, 93
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14
Acts 16:6-15
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

II. Selections
Psalm 67:4
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Jeremiah 29:11
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Acts 16:14b
The Lord opened [ Lydia's] heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.

Luke 10:11
" ... 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this; the kingdom of God has come near.' ... "

III. Meditation: A near miss? ;

We should be glad and sing for joy;
you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
You have plans for our welfare,
to give us a future with hope,
if only we open our hearts.

And if our hearts remain shut,
your kingdom comes near,
but we do not enter in.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)