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 19, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
Proverbs 3:11-20
1 John 3:18-4:6
Matthew 11:1-6

II. Selections
Psalm 5:1
Give ear to my words, O LORD;
give heed to my sighing.

Proverbs 3:11
My child, do not despise the LORD's discipline
or be weary of his reproof ...

1 John 4:5
They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.

Matthew 11:2-3
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

III. Meditation: Weary

Give ear to our words, O God;
give heed to our sighing.

We are weary of hearing those
who are from the world.

We are weary from enduring
their reproof and yours.

We are weary of waiting for the one-
the one who will come to save us.

Are you the one, or shall we sigh
and wearily wait for another?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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