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.

February 10, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 42, 84
Daniel 9:3-10
Hebrews 2:10-18
John 12:44-50

II. Selections
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Daniel 9:3
Then I turned to the LORD God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Hebrews 2:18
Because [ Jesus] himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

John 12:45
" ...And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. ... " [ Jesus, as he cried aloud]

III. Meditation: Your eye is upon us

You have promised to instruct us
and teach us the way we should go,
to counsel us with your eye upon us.

We turn to you to discern your will
through prayer and supplication, with
fasting and sackcloth and ashes ...but fail.

Then we realize we have a better way
to find help when we are being tested-
Jesus too was tested, and he is able to help.

It is when we see Jesus that
we see you, you who sent him.
Your eye is upon us through him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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