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 26, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 116, 119:1-24
2 Chronicles 24:17-22
Acts 6:1-7
Acts 7:59-8:8

II. Selections
Psalms 116:12
What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?

2 Chronicles 24:20
Then the spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, "Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you."

Acts 6:1
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.

Acts 8:3
But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

III. Meditation: Why have you forsaken us?

Why have you forsaken us?
Have we persecuted the innocent?
Or been neglectful in caring for the needy?
Or simply been ungrateful for your bounty to us?
Perhaps you have not forsaken us; we have forsaken you?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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