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 22, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 57, 85
Esther 4:4-17
Acts 18:1-11
Luke 1:1-4, 3:1-14

II. Selections
Psalm 47:2
For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.

Esther 4:16c
" ...After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." [ Esther in reply to Mordecai]

Acts 18:9
One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent ..."

Luke 3:11
" ...and
'On their hands [ God's angels] will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " [ The devil to Jesus]

III. Meditation: Courage to speak in the presence of evil

God Most High, awesome and sovereign,
it is yours to protect us or allow us to perish.
In the face of evil, send your angels to bear us up,
that we may have the courage to speak and not be silent.
In the name of Jesus, who showed us how to stand up to evil.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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