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.

Dwell in Our Midst, Jesus--Dec. 25, 2019


Lord Jesus Christ,
we are a people who conspire,
but our plots are in vain.
How much better it would be
to join ourselves to you--
to be your people and let you
dwell in our midst, Jesus.

Indeed, God sent you to do that,
to speak God's word to us,
and to give the Spirit without
measure.  Teach us how
to love one another, that God's
love may be made perfect
in us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 2; 146; 98; 96
Zech. 2:10-13
1 John 4:7-16
John 3:31-36

Selected Verses
Ps. 2:1
Why do the nations conspire,
          and the peoples plot in vain? 

Zech. 2:11
Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 

1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

John 3:34
He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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