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.

January 07, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 46, 93
Deuteronomy 8:1-3
Colossians 1:1-14
John 6:30-33, 48-51

II. Selections
Psalm 93:1
The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength.
He has established the world; it shall never be moved ...

Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments.

Colossians 1:11-12a
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the father ...

John 6:33
" ...For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. ... " [ Jesus to the crowd]

III. Meditation: With the strength that comes from your power

O God, you are robed in majesty and girded with strength.
With the strength that comes from your power, make us strong,
that with patience we may endure our time in the wilderness.
Feed us with your bread that comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world, while joyfully we give thanks to you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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