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.

Willingly to Offer Ourselves--Dec. 19, 2021

[Revised from Dec. 19, 2005 archive]

 

We profess to know you, 

but by our actions we deny you.

 

You save the lame and gather the outcast; 

you change their shame to praise and renown. 

 

Through your Spirit you turn the hearts of parents 

to their children and turn the disobedient 

to the wisdom of the righteous. 

 

Likewise, Lord, change our hearts;

teach us willingly to offer 

ourselves to you.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110

Zeph. 3:14-20

Titus 1:1-16

Luke 1:1-25

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 110:3

Your people will offer themselves willingly
          on the day you lead your forces
          on the holy mountains.

 

Zeph. 3:19b-c

And I will save the lame

            and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

            and renown in all the earth.

 

Titus 1:16a

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions.

 

Luke 1:17

“…With the spirit and power of Elijah [your son John] will go before [the Lord], to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  [An angel, to Zechariah]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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