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 28, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 57, 85
Joshua 24:16-33
Romans 16:1-16
Matthew 27:24-31

II. Selections
Psalm 57:6
They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves.

Joshua 24:17b
" ...[ The LORD our God] protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed ... " [ The people of Israel responding to Joshua's challenge]

Romans 16:3-4
Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Matthew 27:31
After mocking [ Jesus], they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

III. Meditation: At risk

To follow you is to live at risk ourselves,
and to have others risk their necks for us.

To follow you is to have traps set for us,
and sometimes to enjoy your protection.

It is to work with others in Christ Jesus-
the one mocked, stripped, and crucified-

and though our souls are bowed down,
to give thanks for your ultimate victory.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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