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 24, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80, 147:12-20
Genesis 11:1-9
Hebrews 6:13-20
John 4:1-15

II. Selections
Psalm 80:19
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain ...

John 4:9
The Samaritan woman said to [ Jesus], "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)

III. Meditation: Heal our divisions

We are scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth,
and we are deeply suspicious of those who are different.
Restore our unity; O God, that all may share our hope;
let your face shine, that together we may be saved.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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