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.

May 08, 2010


Out from Egypt

I. Readings
Psalms 92, 149, 23, 114
Leviticus 23:23-44
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Matthew 7:13-21

II. Selections
Psalm 114:1-2
When Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.

Leviticus 23:43
…so that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

Matthew 7:21
“…Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. … ” [Jesus to the crowds on the mountain]

III. Meditation

God, you are faithful; and faithfully
you have led generations of your people.

Guard us from the evil one; and strengthen us
that, avoiding empty piety, we may do your will,
call Jesus ‘Lord,’ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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