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.

Our Deeds Surround Us--Oct. 4, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 5, 145, 82, 29
Hosea 6:7-7:7
Acts 22:30-23:11
Luke 6:39-49

II. Selections
Psalm 82:5
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
      they walk around in darkness;
      all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Hosea 7:2b
Now their deeds surround them,
      they are before my face.

Acts 23:8
(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)

Luke 6:49
“…But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.” [Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation

Dear God,
How tragic to hear your word
if we fail to act upon it.
Our house will fall when trouble comes.

And what of those who do not hear?
They walk in darkness, with neither
knowledge nor understanding; and the
very foundations of the earth are shaken.

Our deeds surround us; they are before your face.
Have mercy. Our disbeliefs are also there.
Lord, have mercy; and shine your light
through our darkness.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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