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 20, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 42, 102, 133
Proverbs 4:1-27
1 John 4:7-21
Matthew 11:7-15

II. Selections
Psalms 102:7
I lie awake;
I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.

Proverbs 4:6
" ...Do not forsake [ wisdom], and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you. ... " [ Advice to the writer from his father]

1 John 4:18a
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear ...

Matthew 11:12
" ...From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ... " [ Jesus to the crowds]

III. Meditation: Like the bird

You have warned your followers
they may be subject to violence;
good reason to lie awake at night,
like a lonely bird on the housetop.

Yes, perfect love casts out fear,
wisdom guards those she loves;
but our love is far from perfect,
forgive us-we are like the bird.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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