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 08, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 72, 80, 90
Amos 5:18-27
Jude 17-25
Matthew 22:15-22

II. Selections
Psalm 90:10
The days of our life are seventy years,
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Amos 5:21
I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Jude 24
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing ...

Matthew 22:18
But Jesus, aware of [ the malice of the Pharisees and Herodians] said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? ... "

III. Meditation: The days of our life

We always test you, all the days of our life.
We want you to take away our toil and trouble.
We use festivals and solemn assemblies to coax you;
but unless we also give you our life, they mean nothing.
The years of our life are soon gone; and we fly away.
Keep us from falling, to stand without blemish
in the presence of your glory, rejoicing.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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