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.

God, Be Leaven to Our Faith--May 27, 2016

[From May 30, 2008 archive]

Be leaven to our faith—
direct our mind in the Way,
that we may do good work,
whether conspicuous or hidden.

As we offer prayer to you,
at a time of distress
the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 130; 148; 32; 139
Prov. 23:19-21, 29-24:2
1 Tim. 5:17-25
Matt. 13:31-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 32:6
Therefore let all who are faithful
            offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
            shall not reach them.

Prov. 23:19
Hear, my child, and be wise,
            and direct your mind in the way.

1 Tim. 5:25
So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.

Matt. 13:33
[Jesus] told [the crowds] a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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