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 31, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Job 11:1-9, 13-20
Revelation 5:1-14
Matthew 5:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 108:1
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!

Job 11:8
" ...[ The limit of the Almighty] is higher than heaven-what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol-what can you know? ... "
[ Zophar the Naamathite to Job]

Revelation 5:2
...and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seal?"

Matthew 5:8
But when Simon Peter saw [ the miraculous catch of fish], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

III. Meditation: What can we know?

Your limit is higher than heaven-what can we do?
And it is deeper than Sheol-what can we know?
Unworthy to break the seal or open your scroll,
we only know we are sinful and mortal-we
say with Simon, "Go away from us, Lord."

Awaken us from our despair, O God,
and we will sing and make melody.
Make our heart steadfast in you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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