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.

June 13, 2010

In Our Darkness

I. Readings
Psalms 103, 150, 117, 139
Numbers 6:22-27
Acts 13:1-12
Luke 12:41-48

II. Selections
Psalm 139:12
…even the darkness is not dark to you;
      the night is as bright as the day,
      for darkness is as light to you.

Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Luke 12:43
“…Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. … ” [Jesus, in reply to Peter]

III. Meditation

The darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day.

Let your face shine upon us
in our darkness, and be gracious to us.

Set us apart and keep us in your service,
that you may find us at work when you arrive.

And bless us with your peace.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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