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 28, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 23, 66, 108
Hosea 1:1-2:1
James 3:1-13
Matthew 13:44-52

II. Selections
Psalm 66:13b-14
I will pay you my vows,
those that my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

Hosea 1:2c
" ...for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD." [ The LORD to Hosea]

James 3:10
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.

Matthew 13:47-48
" ...Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Good fish and bad

God of steadfast love, how our fickle faith must grieve you! In hard times we beg your help and make all manner of fine promises if you will but save us; once rescued, we forget what we have pledged. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. By forsaking you we commit great whoredom. Cast out from the net of our lives the bad fish, and save the good, that we may keep the promises we make in hard times and serve you always. In the name of him who called the fishermen to follow him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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