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 16, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 30, 86, 123
Job 40:1, 41:1-11
Acts 16:6-15
John 12:9-19

II. Selections
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.

Job 41:1
" ...Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook,
or press down its tongue with a cord? ... "
[ God's challenge to Job]

Acts 16:14b
The Lord opened [ Lydia's] heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.

John 12:13
So [ the crowd] took branches of palm trees and went out to meet [ Jesus], shouting,
Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-
the King of Israel!"

III. Meditation: Hosanna

Blessed are you, the King of Israel! Hosanna!
Compared to your deeds, what we do is nothing.
Give us an undivided heart to revere your name,
an open heart that listens eagerly to what you say,
that we may walk in your truth and do your will.
Through Jesus, for whom palm branches waved.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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