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.

Courage to Wait and to Heed--April 6, 2017


Make us strong to wait for you, O God,
strong to wait for you to speak,
and when you have spoken,
strong enough to heed
what plainly you have said.
We are inclined to hear only
what we want to hear--
by your grace,
change us.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 27; 147:12-20; 126; 102
Jer. 26:1-24
Rom. 11:1-12
John 10:19-42
       
Selected Verses
Ps. 27:14
Wait for the LORD;
          be strong, and let your heart take courage;
          wait for the LORD!

Jer. 26:8
And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die!  …" 

Rom. 11:5
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 

John 10:24-25a
So the Jews gathered around [Jesus] and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."   Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe.  …" 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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