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 18, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 46, 67, 93
Ezra 7:1-26
Acts 28:14b-23
Luke 16:1-13

II. Selections
Psalm 67:6
The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Acts 28:16
When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Luke 16:10
" ...Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. ... "

III. Meditation: You have blessed us

The earth has yielded its increase,
and you have blessed us.

Set our hearts to study your law,
and to do it, and to teach others.

Make us faithful in small things,
that we may be faithful in large things.

Forbid that we should be dishonest in small ways,
lest we become dishonest in large ways.

Teach us to be content with small blessings
as Paul was content with a limited freedom.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)