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.


Much to Love--Jan. 17, 2012



Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
our help and our hope are in you.

I have become dull in understanding,
but I am thinking all your covenants spring
from your love of the world--not only humans
but love of every living creature you have made.

If you love the creatures, you must love the air and earth
and water--all that you have made to be their dwelling places.
And if that is so, and if you love us, then we must love them too.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 123; 146; 30; 86
Gen. 9:1-17
Heb. 5:7-14
John 3:16-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 146:5-6a
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
      whose hope is in the LORD their God,
who made heaven and earth,
      the sea, and all that is in them…

Gen. 9:8-10a
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you…"

Heb. 5:11
About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding.

John 3:16
"… For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. …" [Jesus to Nicodemus]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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