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 20, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Leviticus 8:1-13, 30-36
Hebrews 12:1-14
Luke 4:16-30

II. Selections
Psalm 117:2
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

Leviticus 8:30
Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his vestments, and also on his sons and their vestments. Thus he consecrated Aaron and his vestments, and also his sons and their vestments.

Hebrews 12:11
Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Luke 4:30
But [ Jesus] passed through the midst of [ the crowd seeking to hurl him off the cliff] and went on his way.

III. Meditation: The discipline of the righteous

To link blood and the sacred is a primitive instinct,
but does sprinkling blood on altar and vestments
really affect your steadfast love toward us?
Or promote your enduring faithfulness?

The relationship between discipline and righteousness
is an ancient precept too, but perhaps more valid.
What gave Jesus discipline to face the mob?
Did discipline shape his righteousness?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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