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 Happens to Proud Plans--Dec. 21, 2017

In our pride, we make bold plans,
O Mighty One, but you scatter them,
and we find ourselves in troubled waters.
Reach down, and draw us up, we pray,
and teach us to lead gentle lives,
speaking evil of no one,
avoiding quarrels.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 18:1-20; 147:12-20; 126; 62
2 Sam. 7:1-17
Titus 2:11-3:8a
Luke 1:39-56

Selected Verses
Ps. 18:16
[The LORD] reached down from on high, he took me;
          he drew me up out of mighty waters.

2 Sam. 7:2
…the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 

Titus 3:2
…to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. 

Luke 1:39-56
[The Mighty One] has shown strength with his arm;
          he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)