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.

Descendant of David, Bright Morning Star--Dec. 24, 2014


Lord Jesus, you are the root and descendant of David,
the bright morning star.  By your tender mercy,
let your dawn from on high break upon us
and give light to us who sit in darkness,
in the shadow of death.  Strengthen
weak hands; make firm feeble knees;
heal broken hearts; bind up all wounds;
and guide our feet into your way of peace. 

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 50; 147:1-11; 53; 17
Isa. 35:1-10
Rev. 22:12-17, 21
Luke 1:67-80

Selected Verses
Ps. 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted,
          and binds up their wounds. 

Isa. 35:3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 

Rev. 22:16
"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." 

Luke 1:78-79
"…By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  [Zechariah speaks a prophecy]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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