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.

When We Wound Our Friends--Nov. 24, 2016

[From Nov. 29, 2012 archive]

Forgive us, Lord Jesus, when we wound
our friends and others we love.

Redeem us, heal us in your steadfast love.
We hope in you and pray for your
Spirit of wisdom.

Enlighten the eyes of our hearts; make us
trustworthy even in small things
you have left us to do.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
Zech. 13:1-9
Eph. 1:15-23
Luke 19:11-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 130:7
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
          For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
          and with him is great power to redeem.

Zech. 13:6
And if anyone asks [the prophets], "What are these wounds on your chest?" the answer will be "The wounds I received in the house of my friends."

Eph. 1:18
…so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints…

Luke 19:17
"…[The nobleman] said to [his slave], 'Well done, good slave!  Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.'  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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