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.

Nearer Than We Think--July 19, 2009


I. Readings
Psalms 135, 145, 97, 112
Joshua 7:1-13
Romans 13:8-14
Matthew 26:36-46

II. Selections
Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD!
      Happy are those who fear the LORD,
      who greatly delight in his commandments.

Joshua 7:10
The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face? … ”

Romans 13:11-12a
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.

Matthew 26:45-46
Then [Jesus] came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

III. Meditation

Gracious God, happy are those who fear you,
who greatly delight in your commandments.

The night is far gone, the day is near, the hour is at hand.
Wake us from our sleep, that we may stand up before you,
for salvation is nearer than we think.

We pray in the name of Jesus, who did not sleep or take
his rest on the night he was betrayed.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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