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.

June 19, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
Numbers 12:1-16
Romans 2:12-24
Matthew 18:10-20

II. Selections
Psalm 97:1
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad.

Numbers 12:2
...and [ Miriam and Aaron] said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.

Romans 2:21
...you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?

Matthew 18:13
" ...And if [ the shepherd] finds [ the lost sheep], truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ... " [ Jesus to the disciples]

III. Meditation: Cause for rejoicing

You are sovereign!
Let the earth rejoice,
even in parts most remote.

You hear us speak-
our gossip, our complaints,
our preaching that we do not practice.

Good Shepherd,
we are lost sheep; find us.
Rejoice over us, that we may rejoice in you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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