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 09, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 19, 81, 113
Joel 1:1-13
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
Matthew 20:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 81:1
Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

Joel 1:10
The fields are devastated,
the ground mourns;
for the grain is destroyed,
the wine dries up,
the oil fails.

1 Corinthians 14:12
So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

Matthew 20:15
" ' ...Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' ... " [ In Jesus' parable, the landowner to a laborer who complains]

III. Meditation: In good times and in bad

When we are eager for spiritual gifts,
may it be for building up the church.

When our fields are devastated and the ground mourns,
may we still find cause to sing aloud to you, our strength.

When you are generous to others,
may there be no jealousy in us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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