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.

What Kind of Security?--Sept. 24, 2012


 
We pray, "Be merciful, O God, and give us refuge."
What kind of security is important to us?
Security in having an extra shirt to wear,
or keeping hungry neighbors away from our food?

Instead let us ask for security in the form of trust--
trusting that if we dare to do your work
you will be with us to guide and protect,
making us strong to endure what we must endure.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
Esth. 4:4-17
Acts 18:1-11
Luke 1:1-4, 3:1-14

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 57:1
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
          for in you my soul takes refuge…

Esth. 4:14b
"…Who knows?  Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this."  [Mordecai to Esther]

Acts 18:9-10a
One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you…"

Luke 3:11
In reply [Paul] said to [the crowds], "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)