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 11, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Acts 24:10-21
Luke 14:12-24

II. Selections
Psalm 81:16
" ...I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." [ The LORD to the people of Israel]

Nehemiah 1:11a
" ...O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. ... " [ Nehemiah]

Acts 24:15
" ...I have a hope in God-a hope that they themselves also accept-that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. ... " [ Paul before Felix]

Luke 14:13-14
" ...But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." [ Jesus to the leader of the Pharisees, who had invited him to his house for a meal]

III. Meditation: To feed and be fed

O God, let your ear be attentive to our prayer.

We have a hope in you, that you will feed us
with the finest of the wheat, and that you
will satisfy us with honey from the rock.

But you answer that if we delight in revering
your name and want to receive your blessing,
we must feed the poor, crippled, lame, blind.

O God, make us attentive to your reply.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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