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.


Opportunity Lost--Oct. 26, 2011



King Darius made a decree--
out of fear was obeyed.

When we ignore your decrees,
have we no fear?

We may lift our hands to bless you,
but we do not obey you.

We have been permitted to see and hear
what many before us longed to see and hear;
but we live as if we have neither seen nor heard.

We should weep bitterly over the lost opportunity,
and pray for you to forgive us and change us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
Ezra 6:1-22
Rev. 5:1-10
Matt. 13:10-17

Selected Verses
Ps. 134:2
Lift up your hands to the holy place,
      and bless the LORD.

Ezra 6:12b
"…I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence."

Rev. 5:4
And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

Matt. 13:17
"…Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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