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.

The Ministry of Reconciliation--Dec. 31, 2014


Jesus, we want to know you,
want to know you and know the Father,
want to hope in your steadfast love
with a steadfast mind full of trust in you.
You came for our reconciliation;
help us live to reconcile others, we pray. 

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 147:1-11; 45; 96
Isa. 26:1-6
2 Cor. 5:16-6:2
John 8:12-19

Selected Verses
Ps. 147:11
…but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
          in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Isa. 26:3
Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace--
          in peace because they trust in you. 

2 Cor. 5:18
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…

John 8:19
Then [the Pharisees] said to [Jesus], “Where is your Father?”  Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father.  If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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