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 25, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 130, 139, 148
Genesis 11:27-12:8
Hebrews 7:1-17
John 4:16-26

II. Selections
Psalm 32:10
Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.

Genesis 12:7
Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Hebrews 7:15-16
It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life.

John 4:22
" ...You worship what your do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. ... " [ Jesus to the woman of Samaria]

III. Meditation: The power of an indestructible life

When you appeared to Abram,
he built an altar on the spot;
he worshiped what he knew.

We worship what we know
(albeit there is mystery),
and what we know is you.

We know you through the Jews,
and through the power of a life
that could not be destroyed.

The torments of the wicked, too-
we know them from experience;
yet your steadfast love surrounds us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)