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 23, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 28, 54, 99
Esther 5:1-14
Acts 18:12-28
Luke 3:15-22

II. Selections
Psalm 54:4
But surely, God is my helper;
the LORD is the upholder of my life.

Esther 5:1-14
" ...Yet all this does me no good so long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate." [ Haman to his wife and friends]

Acts 18:26
[ Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.

Luke 3:15
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah ...

III. Meditation: Boldly but accurately

God, you are our helper, the upholder of our life.
You are able to answer the questions in our heart.
Open us to a clearer understanding of your Way,
and remove from our life all prejudice and hatred,
that when we speak your word boldly we speak
it according to your will. In the Messiah's name.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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