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.

Seeking but not Finding Your Word--Dec. 11, 2013


Mighty God, you speak and summon the earth; 
let anyone who has an ear listen to what you are saying.

We wander from sea to sea, from north to east,
running to and fro, seeking your word, but do not find it.

Could it be we do not hear because we exalt ourselves?
O God, could this be your way of humbling us?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17

Amos 8:1-14
Rev. 1:17-2:7
Matt. 23:1-12

Selected Verses

Ps. 50:1

The mighty one, God the LORD,
            speaks and summons the earth
            from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Amos 8:12
They shall wander from sea to sea,
            and from north to east;
they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD,
            but they shall not find it.

Rev. 2:7a
Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Matt. 23:12
"…All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." [Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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