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.

August 17, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Judges 16:15-31
2 Corinthians 13:1-11
Mark 5:25-34

II. Selections
Psalm 113:5-6
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?

Judges 16:18a
When Delilah realized that [ Samson] had told her his whole secret, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, "This time come up, for he has told his whole secret to me."

2 Corinthians 13:8
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Mark 5:33
But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before [ Jesus], and told him the whole truth.

III. Meditation: Only for the truth

We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
Even if with fear and trembling, we must tell you the whole truth.

To keep a secret from you is not just undesirable, it is impossible;
for you look down from on high (or dwell within us) and know all.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)