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.

A Double Share of Your Spirit--Sept. 19, 2015

[from Sept. 17, 2005 archive]

Surrounded on every side, surrounded by bees,
by a fire of thorns, only you can help us.

Give us a double share of your Spirit;
give us someone who is not only your servant
but a steward of your mysteries;

give us the One who came
to fulfill the law and the prophets.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111
2 Kings 2:1-18
1 Cor. 4:1-7
Matt. 5:17-20

Selected Verses
Ps. 118:11-12
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
          in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
          they blazed like a fire of thorns;
          in the name of the LORD I cut them off! 

2 Kings 2:9
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 

1 Cor. 4:1
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 

Matt. 5:17
"…Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  …"  [Jesus, sitting on the mountain, to the crowds]

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