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.

July 06, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Numbers 27:12-23
Acts 19:11-20
Mark 1:14-20

II. Selections
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Numbers 27:17
...who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD shall not be like sheep without a shepherd.

Acts 19:13
Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."

Mark 1:17
And Jesus said to [ Simon and Andrew], "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."

III. Meditation: Our shepherd

You call us to follow you; what does that mean?
Certainly not to use your name in empty imitation.

If we follow you, you will be a shepherd to us;
you will lead us out, bring us in; we shall not want.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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