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 22, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 66, 98, 116
Leviticus 16:20-34
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 6:7-15

II. Selections
Psalm 66:6c-7
There we rejoiced in him,
who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations-
let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
Selah

Leviticus 16:22
The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.

Matthew 6:13
" ...And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. ... " [ Jesus, seated on the mountain, speaking to the crowds]

III. Meditation: Bearing our iniquities

O God, you rule by your might forever,
and you keep watch for rebelliousness.

How can we escape from the time of trial;
and, if we fail the test, who will rescue us?

Shall a goat carry away all our iniquities
and deposit them in the wilderness for us?

Or (as difficult to understand or accept)
did Jesus' death take care of the problem?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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