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 04, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
Job 16:16-22; 17:1, 13-16
Acts 13:1-12
John 9:1-17

II. Selections
Psalm 116:6
The LORD protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.

Job 16:22
For when a few years have come,
I shall go the way from which I shall not return.

Acts 13:3
Then after prayer and fasting [ the other prophets and teachers] laid their hands on [ Barnabas and Saul] and sent them off.

John 9:4
" ...We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: When we were brought low

You protect the simple; when we were
brought low, you saved us. It is a simple

existence to which you call us: prayer and
fasting, laying on of hands, and sending on.

We must work your works while it is day;
night is coming when no one can work.

When a few years have come, we shall
go the way from which we shall not return.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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