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.


Poor, Naked, Blind--Dec. 13, 2011

Are we poor in the riches you would bestow upon us;
naked and pitiable in our lack of righteousness?
Are we blind to your goodness and glory?

Then let us keep silence before you.
Heaven and earth will pass
away, not your words.

Let your steadfast love
be upon us, even as we hope
in you. In ourselves--no reason to
hope, poor, naked, and blind as we are.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 33; 146; 85; 94
Zech. 2:1-13
Rev. 3:14-22
Matt. 24:32-44

Selected Verses
Ps. 33:22
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
      even as we hope in you.

Zech. 2:13
Be silent, all people, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Rev. 3:17
"…For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.' …" [He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, to the angel of the church in Laodicea]

Matt. 24:35
"…Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. …" [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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