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.

November 01, 2007

2007 November 1

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
Lamentations 2:16-22
Revelation 5:11-6:11
Matthew 13:18-23

II. Selections
Psalm 26:3
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.

Lamentations 2:18
Cry aloud to the Lord!
O wall of daughter Zion!
Let tears stream down like a torrent
day and night.
Give yourself no rest,
your eyes no respite!

Revelation 6:10
...[ the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given] cried out with a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"

Matthew 13:22
" ...As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Like a torrent day and night

There are those today who plead for justice, and soon.
They cry aloud for your attention; their tears stream down
like a torrent, day and night; no rest or respite for their eyes.

Do we not hear their cry, the poor and hungry and oppressed?
Are their words sown among thorns, choked out by the cares
of the world and the lure of wealth, so that we hear nothing?

How can we say your steadfast love is before our eyes,
that we walk in faithfulness to you, if we do not listen?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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