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 10, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 47, 147:12-20
Jeremiah 23:1-8
Colossians 2:8-23
John 10:7-17

II. Selections
Psalm 147:15
He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.

Jeremiah 23:4
I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.

Colossians 2:13
And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with [ Christ], when he forgave us all our trespasses ...

John 10:11
" ...I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ... " [ Jesus to some Pharisees near him]

III. Meditation: The Good Shepherd

You sent out your command to the earth,
and your word ran swiftly. You sent
your shepherd to shepherd over us,
the good shepherd who laid down
his life for the sheep; now we
need not fear, or be dismayed, nor
shall any be missing; you forgave us
our trespasses, when you made us alive
together with Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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