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.

December 16, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 33, 85, 94
Isaiah 9:2-7
2 Peter 1:12-21
Luke 22:54-69

II. Selections
Psalm 85:4
Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us.

Isaiah 9:2
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness-
on them light has shined.

2 Peter 1:19
So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Luke 22:56
Then a servant-girl, seeing [ Peter] in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also was with him."

III. Meditation: Until the day dawns

By firelight the servant-girl saw Peter and recognized him.
We who walk in darkness need to see your great light.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and make
us attentive to your word. Let it be for us a lamp
shining in our darkness, until the day dawns,
and the morning star rises in our hearts.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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