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.

Food for Rejoicing--August 19, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 36, 147:12-20, 80, 27
Job 1:1-22
Acts 8:26-40
John 6:16-27

II. Selections
Psalm 27:6
Now my head is lifted up
      above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
      sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Job 1:9-10a
Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? … ”

Acts 8:39
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.

John 6:27a
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

III. Meditation

O God, on what basis shall we sing and
make melody to you with shouts of joy?

Because our head is lifted up
above our enemies all around us?

Because you fence us off, and our
house, and all we have, to protect us?

The eunuch experienced the most important reason—
you give us the food that endures for eternal life.

We can partake and go on our way rejoicing,
whatever else you may snatch away from us.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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