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.


From Hands Too Strong for Us--Dec. 23, 2011



Imprisoned in sin, our souls wait for the Lord,
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

By your tender mercy, the dawn from on high
will break upon us to give us light--we who
sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

For he will ransom and redeem us
from hands too strong for us and
guide us into the way of peace.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 102; 148; 130; 16
Jer. 31:10-14
Gal. 3:15-22
Luke 1:67-80

Selected Verses
Ps. 130:6
…my soul waits for the Lord
      more than those who watch for the morning,
      more than those who watch for the morning.

Jer. 31:11
For the LORD has ransomed Jacob,
      and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Gal. 3:22
But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Luke 1:78
"…By the tender mercy of our God,
      the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in
      darkness and in the shadow of death,
     to guide our feet into the way of peace." [Zechariah]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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