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.

Things of the Spirit--Oct. 3, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 103, 150, 117, 139
Hosea 5:8-6:6
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
Matthew 14:1-12

II. Selections
Psalms 150:2
Praise [God] for his mighty deeds;
      praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Hosea 5:15a
I will return again to my place
      until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face.

1 Corinthians 2:13
And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

Matthew 14:1
At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.”

III. Meditation

Human wisdom does not comprehend,
nor have we words to express,
the things of the Spirit.

We can only praise your surpassing greatness,
and acknowledge our guilt,
and seek your face.

To seek your face is to seek your will for us,
that your power may be at work in us
to serve you in the world.



Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)