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 26, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
Numbers 17:1-11
Romans 5:1-11
Matthew 20:17-28

II. Selections
Psalm 80:8
You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.

Numbers 17:8
When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.

Romans 5:5
...and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Matthew 20:28
" ...just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Fruit of your love

As Aaron's staff produced flowers and almonds,
as your vine transplanted from Egypt bore fruit,
so your love poured into our hearts yields hope.
And in our hope we remember that Jesus came
not to be served but to serve, and gave his life.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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