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.

November 05, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 1, 33, 89:1-18
Zephaniah 2:1-15
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17

II. Selections
Psalms 33:21
Our heart is glad in [ the LORD],
because we trust in his holy name.

Zephaniah 2:2
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land
who do his commands;
seek righteousness, seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the LORD's wrath.

Revelation 16:1
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God."

Luke 13:17
When [ Jesus] said this [ his response to criticism for healing on the Sabbath], all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

III. Meditation: Bowls of wrath

We rejoice at all the wonderful things you do,
and our heart is glad because we trust in you.

We seek you and seek to do your commands;
we seek righteousness and humility. And if
bowls of wrath are poured out on the earth,
give us faith sufficient to trust and endure.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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