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.

Only Your Voice--Feb. 28, 2011


O God, you have spoken out of the fire;
those who listened heard but did not see.

You know what we need before we ask you;
my soul waits in silence, my voice not needed.

Waiting, I do not commend myself, nor hope
for your commendation; in my silence accept me.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9
Deut. 4:9-14
2 Cor. 10:1-18
Matt. 6:7-15

Selected Verses
Ps. 62:5
For God alone my soul waits in silence,
      for my hope is from him.

Deut. 4:12
Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

2 Cor. 10:18
For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.

Matt. 6:8
“…Do not be like [the Gentiles who heap up empty phrases], for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. …” [Jesus to the crowds]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)