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 29, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 97, 132
2 Samuel 23:13-17b
2 John 1-13
John 2:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 96:2
Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.

2 Samuel 23:15
David said longingly, "O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!"

2 John 3
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love.

John 2:3
When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."

III. Meditation: Water from Bethlehem

David longed for water from Bethlehem,
and his soldiers risked their lives to bring some.

You attended a wedding where the wine gave out,
and you changed water into wine, supplying the need.

These are signs of the salvation you bring to us, day by day.
May your grace, mercy, and peace be with us, in truth and love.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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