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.

May 01, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 68, 113
Daniel 7:9-14
Hebrews 2:5-18
Matthew 28:16-20

II. Selections
Psalm 113:9
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!

Daniel 7:13b-e
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.

Hebrews 2:15
...and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to [ the eleven disciples], "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ... "

III. Meditation: Ascension

God, you have lifted up social outcasts
and given them reason to rejoice in you.

You have set free those who all their lives
were held in slavery by the fear of death.

All authority in heaven and on earth you
have given to Jesus to do these things.

Like a human being he came to you,
came from you, and returned to you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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