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 10, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
Ezra 9:1-15
Revelation 17:1-14
Matthew 14:22-36

II. Selections
Psalm 104:33
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

Ezra 9:9
" ...For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem. ... " [ Ezra's prayer]

Revelation 17:6-7a
And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly amazed. But the angel said to me, "Why are you amazed? ... "

Matthew 14:24-25
...but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against [ the disciples]. And early in the morning [ Jesus] came walking toward them on the sea.

III. Meditation: While we have being

The depth of evil amazes us and enslaves us,
yet you have not forsaken us in our slavery.
Before the powers of the world you extend
your steadfast love and give us new life.

Far from land our wind-tossed boat is battered
by the waves, and you come walking toward us.
So we will sing to you as long as we live,
sing praise to you while we have being.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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