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.

Lest Darkness Overtake Us--September 16, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 36, 147:12-20, 80, 27
Job 28:1-28
Acts 16:25-40
John 12:27-36a

II. Selections
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD;
      be strong, and let your heart take courage;
      wait for the LORD!

Job 28:20
“…Where then does wisdom come from?
      And where is the place of understanding? … ”
[Job muses on wisdom]

Acts 16:40
After leaving the prison [Paul and Silas] went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.

John 12:35
Jesus said to [the crowd], “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. … ”

III. Meditation

Where does wisdom come from;
where is the place of understanding?

Not in the darkness, but in your light—
but how do we manage to be in your light?

Sometimes we receive light when in
the company of our sisters and brothers.

Sometimes your light shines upon us
after earnestly waiting for it to come.

Help us be strong; give us courage,
that when all is darkness around us,

and we do not know where to go,
we can wait and pray for your light.

Then perhaps we will begin to see
how to find wisdom and understanding.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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