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 29, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 9, 62, 73
Jeremiah 45:1-5
Revelation 1:4-20
Matthew 12:43-50

II. Selections
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Jeremiah 45:5
" ...And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the LORD; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go." [ The LORD speaking to Baruch]

Revelation 1:9
I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Matthew 12:50
" ...For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." [ Jesus in reply to someone who had told him his mother and brothers were outside]

III. Meditation: Our portion forever

Though flesh and heart may fail
and disaster come upon all flesh,
though we share the persecution,
be still the strength of our heart
and fill us with patient endurance,
seeking no great thing for our self
except to do the will of the Father,
who is our portion forever.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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