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.

October 01, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 132, 134
Hosea 3:1-5
Acts 21:15-26
Luke 5:27-39

II. Selections
Psalm 96:12b
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the LORD; for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.

Hosea 3:1
The LORD said to me again, "Go, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Acts 21:19
After greeting [ James and the elders], [ Paul] related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Luke 5:30
The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to [ Jesus'] disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

III. Meditation: Though we turn to other gods

O Loving God, though your people scorn your love, though like adulterers we run after idols and false gods, yet you love us still. Make us-who have experienced your forgiving love-as ready to love and accept others as you have been to love and accept us, so that through our ministry among them you can do things that will cause all the trees of the forest to sing for joy. In the name of him who ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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