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.

Remembering their Labor of Love--Apr. 19, 2016


You are gracious, righteous, and merciful,
O God, and we are a people bent on evil.
Yet we remember before you the labor
of love of some whose steadfast
hope in the Lord Jesus Christ
made their lights shine,
so that others saw
your good works
and gave you the glory.
Pray make us more like them.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116
Exod. 32:21-34
1 Thess. 1:1-10
Matt. 5:11-16

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:5
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
          our God is merciful. 

Exod. 32:22
And Aaron said [to Moses], “Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on evil.  …”

1 Thess. 1:3
…remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matt. 5:16
“…In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  …”  [Jesus to the crowds on the mountain]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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