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.


The Time to Die--June 6, 2012



We can agree that there is a time to die,
but not when the right time will be.

For John the Baptist, killed on a whim,
it surely was not the right time.

We believe with Paul that Jesus did not
die for nothing; but to the disciples
it did not seem the right time.

Satisfy us with the life you provide us,
life rich with salvation and grace--
while we live and when we die.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Eccl. 3:1-15
Gal. 2:11-21
Matt. 14:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 91:16
With long life I will satisfy [those who love me],
      and show them my salvation.

Eccl. 3:1-2a
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die…

Gal. 2:21
I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Matt. 14:12
[John's] disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)