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.

Our Hope for Victory--Dec. 24, 2013

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Dear God, if only the nations would learn:
the war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its might it cannot save.

If only they would come to your light,
and to the brightness of your dawn,
then the nations might learn:

In the fullness of time you sent your Son,
born of a woman--Emmanuel, God is
with us--in him is our victory.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 33; 146; 85; 94
Isaiah 60:1-6
Galatians 3:23-4:7
Matthew 1:18-25

Selected Verses

Ps. 33:17
 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
          and by its great might it cannot save.

Isaiah 60:3
Nations shall come to your light,
            and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law…

Matthew 1:23
            "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
                        and they shall name him Emmanuel,"
which means, "God is with us."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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