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.

December 03, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 40, 67, 122
Amos 2:6-16
2 Peter 1:1-11
Matthew 21:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.

Amos 2:13
So I will press you down in your place,
just as a cart presses down
when it is full of sheaves.

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Matthew 21:9
" ' ...Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. ... ' " [ The king to his slaves, in Jesus' parable of the Wedding Banquet]

III. Meditation: The weight of the sheaves

When our cart is pressed down
from the weight of the sheaves,
remind us to wait patiently for you;
you will incline to us and hear our cry.

We are invited to your banquet,
and your divine power will give us
everything we need for life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who calls us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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