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.

What Your Kingdom Will Be Like--Nov. 26, 2017

 [From Nov. 22, 2009 archive]

We do not know when to expect
your kingdom to appear, but we
know what to expect it will be like
when finally your kingdom comes.

Nation will not be separated from
nation, for you will bless them all;
they will live together in harmony.

They will give you glorious praise,
glorifying you as with one voice;
all will make a joyful noise to you
and sing the glory of your name.

Must we wait for that day of days
before we begin to move toward it?
Grant us courage, wisdom to start.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 108, 150, 66, 23
Isa. 19:19-25
Rom. 15:5-13
Luke 19:11-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 66:1-2
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise.

Isa. 19:24-25
On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage."

Rom. 15:5-6
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 19:11
As [the disciples] were listening to this, [Jesus] went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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