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.


To Save Life, or Destroy It?--May 16, 2011


Jesus, you are always about life saving, not life destruction.
You break the yoke from off our necks and burst our bonds.

You rescue us from the power of darkness
and transfer us to your kingdom of light.

There we find redemption and the forgiveness of sin.
We rejoice in you and give thanks to your holy name.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Jer. 30:1-9
Col. 1:1-14
Luke 6:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:11-12
Light dawns for the righteous,
      and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
      and give thanks to his holy name!

Jer. 30:8
On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will break the yoke from off his neck, and I will burst his bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him.

Col. 1:13-14
He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to [the scribes and Pharisees], “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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