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 23, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 4,15, 48, 147:1-11
Genesis 9:18-29
Hebrews 6:1-12
John 3:22-36

II. Selections
Psalm 4:7
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.

Genesis 9:21-22
[ Noah] drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.

Hebrews 6:9
Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation.

John 3:27
John answered [ his disciples], "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. ... "

III. Meditation: Naked in your sight

We do not like others to see us uncovered;
but before you, we are always naked.
The only clothes we have to wear
to cover our spiritual nakedness
are ones we receive from you.
Put gladness in our heart-
things that belong
to salvation.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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