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.

April 14, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Exodus 32:1-20
Colossians 3:18-4:18
Matthew 5:1-10

II. Selections
Psalm 97:5
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.

Exodus 32:19
As soon as [ Moses] came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

Colossians 4:5
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

Matthew 5:5
" ...Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ... " [ Jesus, seated on the mountain, speaking to the crowds]

III. Meditation: Mountains

The mountains melted like wax before you,
for you are God Almighty, ruler of the earth.

Moses' anger burned hot as he broke the
tablets at the foot of your holy mountain.

To follow Jesus is not to burn with anger;
he sat on the mountain, praised the meek.

Help us be meek of conduct, but also wise,
to make the most of our time on mountains.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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