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 28, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 111, 118
Numbers 20:14-29
Romans 6:1-11
Matthew 21:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 118:4
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His steadfast love endures forever."

Numbers 20:16
" ...and when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and here we are in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory." [ Moses to Edom]

Romans 6:4
Therefore we have been buried with [ Christ] by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Matthew 21:3
" ...If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs [ the two donkeys].' And he will send them immediately." [ Jesus to two of his disciples]

III. Meditation: Answering a call for help

O God, your steadfast love endures forever.
We cry to you for help; you hear our voice,
that we too might walk in newness of life.

When you have need for what we can give,
help us to respond immediately, as the
one did who sent the donkeys to Jesus.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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