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.

When We Have Time--Oct. 8, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 51, 148, 142, 65
Hosea 9:10-17
Acts 24:24-25:12
Luke 8:1-15

II. Selections
Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God,
      according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
      blot out my transgressions.

Hosea 9:12b
Woe to them indeed
      when I depart from them!

Acts 24:25
And as [Paul] discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”

Luke 8:11
“…Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. … ” [Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation

You sow your word among us; but mention of justice, self-control,
and the coming judgment make us uncomfortable and frightened.

Go away for the present—we will let you know when we
have more time…but woe to us when you depart from us!

Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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