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 28, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Jeremiah 44:15-30
Acts 18:24-19:7
Luke 10:25-37

II. Selections
Psalm 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

Jeremiah 44:23
" ...It is because you burned offerings [ to the queen of heaven], and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his decrees, that this disaster has befallen you, as is still evident today." [ Jeremiah to Judeans living as refugees in Egypt]

Acts 18:25
[ Apollos] had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Luke 10:26-27
[ The lawyer] answered [ Jesus], "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

III. Meditation: Awake, my soul, that I may sing

Give us steadfast hearts, O God, and awaken our souls,
that we may sing and make melody, and love you-
love you totally with heart, soul, strength, and mind.

Give us steadfast hearts, that we may walk
in your law, which is the law of love, and
walk in your way, which is the way of love.

Give us steadfast hearts, that with burning enthusiasm
we may speak about Jesus and teach accurately
about his way and all the things concerning him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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