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 20, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Genesis 7:1-10, 17-23
Ephesians 4:1-16
Mark 3:7-19

II. Selections
Psalm 19:3-4
There is no speech, nor are there words;
[ the voice of the heavens and firmament] is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

Genesis 7:7
And Noah with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called ...

Mark 3:13
[ Jesus] went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.

III. Meditation: Your prisoners

We hear no speech, nor any words;
yet your voice comes to call us out.

Sometimes you call us to safety,
to escape the waters of a flood;

sometimes you call us only to
lead a life worthy of your call.

No matter, you have called those
you want; we are your prisoners.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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