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 31, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 45, 96, 98
1 Kings 3:5-14
James 4:13-17, 5:7-11
John 5:1-15

II. Selections
Psalm 98:1
O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.

1 Kings 3:5
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you."

James 4:11
Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

John 5:5-6
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

III. Meditation: Cause to sing a new song

Your right hand and your holy arm have gotten you victory.
We have seen that you are compassionate and merciful.
Suppose that you, who have done marvelous things,
would ask us in a dream what you should give us.
What would we ask for? To be made well? Or
rather for the strength to endure our illness?
An answer to either request would be
reason to sing to you a new song.

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