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.


According to the Measure of Christ's Gift--Jan. 2, 2012



The boy with five barley loaves and two fish
had a contribution to make, for each is given grace
according to the measure of Christ's gift.

The one who thought his life was over
still had much to accomplish, for each is given grace
according to the measure of Christ's gift.

The needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor shall the hope of the poor perish forever.
Will not they too be given grace according
to the measure of Christ's gift?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 48; 145; 9; 29
1 Kings 19:1-8
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:1-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 9:18
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
      nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

1 Kings 19:4
But [Elijah] himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors."

Ephesians 4:7
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.

John 6:8-9
One of [Jesus'] disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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