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.

Silence Before You--Oct. 19, 2012


You told Israel you would destroy them
and asked who could help them.
They could not answer.

After you told the disciples to listen to Jesus
they were silent, and spoke to no one.
Their silence was appropriate.

But there are times to break silence,
as when confessing our sins
or giving you thanks.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
Hosea 13:9-16
Acts 28:1-16
Luke 9:28-36

Selected Verses

Ps. 32:3
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
          through my groaning all day long.

Hosea 13:9
I will destroy you, O Israel; who can help you?

Acts 28:15
The believers from [Rome], when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us.  On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

Luke 9:36
When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.  And [Peter, John, and James] kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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