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 29, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 46, 67, 93
Numbers 21:4-9, 21-35
Acts 17:12-21, 23-24
Luke 13:10-17

II. Selections
Psalm 67:4
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.

Numbers 21:4
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way.

Acts 17:24
" ...The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands ... " [ Paul, preaching to the Athenians]

Luke 13:12
When Jesus saw [ the woman who was bent over], he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

III. Meditation: Guide the nations

You made the world and everything in it.
O God, you are Lord of heaven and earth.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.

Guide the nations upon earth; and when
we grow impatient on the way, remind us:
Jesus healed individuals, not entire nations.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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