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 12, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 97, 149
Genesis 49:1-2, 8-12
Colossians 3:18-4:6
John 15:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.

Genesis 49:11
Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
[ Judah] washes his garments in wine
and his robe in the blood of the grape ...
[ from Jacob's last words to his sons]

Colossians 4:1
Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

John 15:11
" ...I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples at the Last Supper]

III. Meditation: Your pleasure, our joy

Who are your people, in whom you take pleasure?
Those who are humble even to those under them
because they know that they are your subjects.

As Judah was to bind his foal to the choice vine;
so may we bind our lives to the one who is the Vine,
that your joy may be in us, and our joy may be complete.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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