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 22, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Numbers 14:26-45
Acts 15:1-12
Luke 12:49-56

II. Selections
Psalm 113:7-8
He raises the poor from the dust,
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.

Numbers 14:26-27
And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me.

Acts 15:8
" ...And God, who knows the human heart, testified to [ the Gentiles] by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us ... " [ Peter, at the Jerusalem Council]

Luke 12:49
" ...I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Fire to the world

Your message is fire to the world:
You raise the poor from the dust,
and the needy from the ash heap,
and make them sit with princes.

Your Holy Spirit goes to Gentiles
as well as to Jews, but complaints
against you from any quarter
are counterproductive.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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