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.

What Miracle Will God Do?--Sept. 25, 2014


O Lord Jesus, God sent you to let the oppressed go free.
Our spirits faint within us, our hearts are appalled,
when we consider how many in this world
are being sold, destroyed, killed.

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul;
in your name what miracle will God
do to relieve this suffering?
And through whom?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
Esth. 7:1-10
Acts 19:11-20
Luke 4:14-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 143:4
 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
          my heart within me is appalled.

Esth. 7:4a
For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.

Acts 19:11
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul…

Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…"  [Jesus in his home synagogue, reading from Isaiah]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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