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.

Borne on Eagles’ Wings--April 28, 2020


God, you have borne us on eagles’ wings,
rescued us from the power of darkness,
and transferred us into the kingdom
of your beloved Son, Christ Jesus.

In Christ we have redemption;
we have forgiveness of sins.

What shall we return to you
for all your bounty to us?
Help us bear fruit that is
worthy of repentance.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116
Exod. 19:1-16
Col. 1:1-14
Matt. 3:7-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:12
What shall I return to the LORD
          for all his bounty to me?

Exod. 19:4
“…You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself…”  [The LORD’s message for Moses to deliver to the Israelites]

Col. 1:13-14
[God] has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Matt. 3:8
“…Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  …”  [John the Baptist, to the Pharisees and Sadducees]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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