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 18, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 28, 54, 99
Habakkuk 3:1-18
James 3:1-12
Luke 17:1-10

II. Selections
Psalm 54:4
But surely, God is my helper;
the LORD is the upholder of my life.

Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will exalt in the God of my salvation.

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

Luke 17:3
" ...Be on guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. ... " [ Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation: What is easy, what is difficult

It is easy to praise you for the bounty we receive. It is not easy to praise you when bad things happen to us. If my mouth praises, it ought not to curse. To rebuke a sinner is not easy, though to curse the sinner behind the person's back is easy. Most difficult is to forgive the offense, especially if it was against me. O you who are the upholder of my life, give me the courage and wisdom and grace to be forgiving, as you have forgiven me.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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