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 09, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 42, 102, 133
Job 29:1-20
Acts 14:1-18
John 10:31-42

II. Selections
Psalm 102:20
...to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die ...

Job 29:15-16
" ...I was eyes to the blind,
and feet to the lame.
I was a father to the needy,
and I championed the cause of the stranger. ... "
[ Job defending himself against his friends]

Acts 14:9
[ The man crippled from birth] listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed ...

John 10:32
Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?"

III. Meditation: Many good works

Lord Jesus, you have shown us many good works from the Father.
You were all the things that Job claimed to be: eyes to the blind,
feet to the lame, father to the needy, champion of the stranger.
You heard the prisoners groan, set free those doomed to die.
Give us faith to be healed, and give us faith to be healers.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)