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 25, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 81, 116, 143
Esther 7:1-10
Acts 19:11-20
Luke 4:14-30

II. Selections
Psalms 116:5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.

Esther 7:3
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me-that is my petition-and the lives of my people-that is my request. ... "

Acts 19:11
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul ...

Luke 4:14
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.

III. Meditation: Grace, righteousness, mercy

O God most gracious, righteous, and merciful:
you filled Jesus with the power of your Spirit,
and everyone heard about his acts of healing;
you did extraordinary miracles through Paul.
By your favor, grant us our lives, the lives
of your people, that in them we may show
forth your grace, righteousness, and mercy.
Through Christ our Lord.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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