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 Rider of the Red Horse--Oct. 31, 2013


Hear our voice, O God,
for out of the depths we cry to you.

When we hear the words about what is happening
in the world, it almost seems that the rider of  
the red horse has been permitted to take
peace from the earth, for everywhere
the people slaughter one another.

It is enough to make us sit down to
weep and mourn, fast and pray.
Have the cares of the world
and the lure of wealth
choked out your
words of love
and peace?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
Neh. 1:1-11
Rev. 5:11-6:11
Matt. 13:18-23

Selected Verses

Ps. 130:1-2a
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
       Lord, hear my voice!

Neh. 1:4
When I heard these words [about the Jews that survived and about Jerusalem] I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Rev. 6:4
And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.

Matt. 13:22
"…As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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