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.


Even in Our Slavery--Nov. 5, 2011


Though we walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve us against the wrath of our enemies.

We are slaves of our little faith,
but even in our slavery you have not forsaken us;

As Jesus reached out to Peter,
so you have extended your steadfast love.

Lord of lords and King of kings,
conquer the powers that enslave us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Ezra 9:1-15
Rev. 17:1-14
Matt. 14:22-36

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
      you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
      and your right hand delivers me.

Ezra 9:9
"…For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem. …" [Ezra's prayer of shame over marriages to foreigners]

Rev. 17:13-14
"… [The ten kings] are united in yielding their power and authority to the beast; they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." [Spoken by one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls]

Matt. 14:31
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught [Peter], saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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