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.

Light Before the Darkness Comes--Jan. 4, 2020


Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. 
Help us live as children of the Light;
the fruit of your light is good
and right and true.

We must work in your light
before the darkness comes
when no one can work.
We need no stones
to remember
you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 20; 149; 93; 97
Josh. 3:14-4:7
Eph. 5:1-20
John 9:1-12, 35-38

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:11
Light dawns for the righteous,
          and joy for the upright in heart.

Josh. 4:7c
“…So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.”  [Joshua, to the 12 men who carried the stones from the middle of the Jordan]

Eph. 5:8b-9
Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 

John 9:4-5
“…We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  [Jesus, to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)