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.

September 01, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 9, 62, 73, 145
Job 12:1-6, 13-25
Acts 11:19-30
John 8:21-32

II. Selections
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

Job 12:22
[ God] uncovers the deeps out of darkness,
and brings deep darkness to light.

Acts 11:21
The hand of the Lord was with [ the men who spoke to the Hellenists as well as to the Jews], and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.

John 8:29
" ...And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." [ Jesus]

III. Meditation: Let your hand be with us

You uncover the deep places
that are full of darkness
and bring even the
deep places to light.

You were with Jesus
and did not leave him alone,
and he always did what was
pleasing to you.

You are near to all
who call on you,
who call upon
you in truth.

We call on you, be near;
let your hand be with us;
shed light on our darkness;
do not leave us alone; that we
may do what is pleasing to you.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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