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 10, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 1, 33, 89:1-18
Job 29:1, 30:1-2, 16-31
Acts 14:19-28
John 11:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 33:8
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Job 30:26
" ...But when I looked for good, evil came;
and when I waited for light, darkness came. ... "
[ Job]

Acts 14:22
There [ in Antioch] [ Paul and Barnabas] strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God."

John 11:16
Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with [ Jesus]."

III. Meditation: Nevertheless, let us also go

We know what it is to look for good, and evil comes;
we have waited for light and found yet more darkness.

We have feared the consequences of going with Jesus
(even if not confronted with the prospect of death).

Can anyone remain fearless before you,
or can anyone fail to hold you in awe?

But it is through many persecutions
that we must enter your kingdom.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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