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.

Tested by what He Suffered--Dec. 28, 2014


Merciful God,
you have proclaimed,
to the end of the earth,
that our salvation has come
in one who will save us from our sins.

He, who was tested by his sufferings,
is able to help us who are tested.
Why should we want to conspire
or plot against him?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 2; 150; 110; 111
Isa. 62:6-7, 10-12
Heb. 2:10-18
Matt. 1:18-25

Selected Verses
Ps. 2:1
Why do the nations conspire,
          and the peoples plot in vain? 

Isa. 62:11
The LORD has proclaimed
          to the end of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
          “See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
          and his recompense before him.” 

Heb. 2:18
Because [Jesus] himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Matt. 1:21
"[Mary] will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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