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.

Finding Happiness--Oct. 3, 2014


Lord of Hosts, we seek happiness by drinking alcohol,
but wine and new wine take away understanding.
We can fill ourselves with food, our days with laughter,
but one day we will hunger, one day cry and weep.

St. Paul found true happiness
when he had been baptized--
when his sins were forgiven
and he called on your name;
for happy is everyone
who trusts in you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Hosea 4:11-19
Acts 21:37-22:16
Luke 6:12-26

Selected Verses
Ps. 84:12
 O LORD of hosts,
          happy is everyone who trusts in you.

Hosea 4:11
Wine and new wine take away the understanding. 

Acts 22:16
"'And now why do you delay?  Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.'…"  [Paul quoting the words Ananias spoke to him]

Luke 6:25
"…Woe to you who are full now,
            for you will be hungry.
"Woe to you who are laughing now,
            for you will mourn and weep.  …"
[Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)