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 20, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 111, 118
Esther 2:5-8, 15-23
Acts 17:16-34
John12:44-50

II. Selections
Psalm 56:13
For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

Esther 2:17
...the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Acts 17:25
" ...nor is [ God] served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. ... " [ Paul preaching in Athens]

John12:46
" ...I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. ... " [ Jesus]

III. Meditation: No royal crown

O God, you who have given us life and breath and all things,
have delivered our soul from death and our feet from falling:
we ask for no favors or signs of devotion from earthly rulers,
only that you will bring Jesus to shine through our darkness,
so we may walk before you in the light of life. In his name.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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