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.

A Sure and Steadfast Anchor--Jan. 17, 2021

Holy One, Creator, King, 

the heavens tell of your glory, 

the skies proclaim your handiwork.

 

You have given us a hope, a sure

and steadfast anchor of the soul,

a hope to enter the inner shrine

behind the curtain of death.

 

You have given us 

a Savior.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113

Isa. 43:14-44:5

Heb. 6:17-7:10

John 4:27-42

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 19:1

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
          and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

 

Isa. 43:15

I am the LORD, your Holy One,
          the Creator of Israel, your King.

 

Heb. 6:19

We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain…

 

John 4:42

[The Samaritans from the city] said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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