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.

Astonish Us, O Christ--Jan. 29, 2014


 Forgive us, O Christ, you who answer prayer.
Forgive when we look with contempt.
Forgive all our transgressions, and astonish us
with your love and with your power
to redeem, that all flesh may come to you
and receive an eternal inheritance.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Gen. 16:1-14
Heb. 9:15-28
John 5:19-29

Selected Verses

Ps. 65:2
            …O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.

Gen. 16:4
[Abram] went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Heb. 9:15
For this reason [Christ] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

John 5:20
"…The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.  …"  [Jesus to the Jewish authorities]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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