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 15, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
Nehemiah 6:1-19
Revelation 19:1-10
Matthew 16:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 27:4
One thing I asked of the LORD,
that I will seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.

Nehemiah 6:11
But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!"

Revelation 19:8
" ...to [ the bride of the Lamb] it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure''-
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

Matthew 16:1
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

III. Meditation: Signs enough

Some refuse to believe unless
they receive a sign from heaven.
They should consider the righteous
deeds of the saints, who are blessed
with the courage to resist, and who
are happy to behold your beauty.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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