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.

When You Open to Us a Door--Oct. 24, 2013


 We lift up our soul to you, O Jesus--
show us the way we should go,
for in your name we hope.

And when you open to us a door
for effective work, stir up our spirit,
so that your will may be accomplished
even if we face adversaries on every side.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
Ezra 1:1-11
1 Cor. 16:1-9
Matt. 12:15-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 143:8b
 Teach me the way I should go,
          for to you I lift up my soul.

Ezra 1:1
In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared…

1 Cor. 16:9
…for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Matt. 12:21
 "…And in his name the Gentiles will hope."  [From Isaiah, words applied to Jesus]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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