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.

You Pour out Richly Your Spirit--Dec. 21, 2013


 How has it happened that you come to us?
Like grass we flourish in the morning;
but in the evening we fade, wither,
die, and are soon swept away.

Yet in Jesus Christ our Savior
you pour out on us richly
your Spirit and do not
take your steadfast
love away.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 90; 149; 80; 72
2 Sam. 7:1-17
Titus 2:11-3:8a
Luke 1:39-56

Selected Verses

Ps. 90:5-6
You sweep [mortals] away; they are like a dream,
          like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
          in the evening it fades and withers.

2 Sam. 7:15
But I will not take my steadfast love from your offspring…
[The LORD speaking through Nathan to David]

Titus 3:6
This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…

Luke 1:43
"…And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?  …"  [Elizabeth to Mary]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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