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.

Astonishing Us in what You Do--Jan. 27, 2016


As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so you surround your people, O God.

There are times when we hardly know
where we have come from, and when
we have no idea where we are going.

At such times, remind us, O Christ,
that wherever we may be, you will
 be ready to appear on our behalf,
astonishing us in what you do.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Gen. 16:1-14
Heb. 9:15-28
John 5:19-29

Selected Verses
Ps. 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
          so the LORD surrounds his people,
          from this time on and forevermore. 

Gen. 16:8a
And [the angel of the LORD] said, "Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" 

Heb. 9:24
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

John 5:20
"…The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.  …"  [Jesus to those who were seeking to kill him] 
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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