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 27, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 63, 100, 122
Jeremiah 44:1-14
Philemon 1-25
Matthew 12:33-42

II. Selections
Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Jeremiah 44:4
Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, "I beg you not to do this abominable thing that I hate!" [ The LORD, speaking through Jeremiah, to Judeans living in Egypt]

Philemon 18
If [ Onesimus] has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. [ Paul writing to Philemon about the latter's slave, Onesimus]

Matthew 12:33
" ...Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. ... " [ Jesus to the Pharisees who accused him of being in league with Beelzebul]

III. Meditation: Good trees, good fruit

It is you that made us, and we are yours-
your people, the sheep of your pasture;
yet we ignore your commandments
and even do the things you hate.

Teach us how to bear good fruit;
make us generous and caring for others,
as Paul looked after the welfare of Onesimus
when Paul himself was in need of care and attention.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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