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 20, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 28, 54, 99
Ezra 9:1-15
Revelation 21:1-8
Matthew 17:14-21

II. Selections
Psalms 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
while mischief is in their hearts.

Ezra 9:9a
" ...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 ..." [ Ezra's prayer of repentance, upon learning of his people's many mixed marriages]

Revelation 21:5a
And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."

Matthew 17:18
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of [ the boy], and the boy was cured instantly.

III. Meditation: Renew our hearts

You are able to make all things new.
You cured the boy with a demon.
You gave slaves their freedom.

Will you not also renew our hearts,
take away the mischief in them,
so that we mean what we say?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)