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.

Lord Jesus, in our Time of Testing--May 25, 2017

[From May 14, 2015 archive]

Lord Jesus, when we try to worship you,
but we are full of doubt, you come
to us in our time of testing,
as to a barren woman,
and give us a home with you
and make us joyous,
like a joyous mother of children.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Ezek. 1:1-14, 24-28b
Heb. 2:5-18
Matt. 28:16-20

Selected Verses
Ps. 113:9
[The LORD] gives the barren woman a home,
          making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!

Ezek. 1:3
…the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was on him there.

Heb. 2:18
Because [Jesus] himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Matt. 28:17
When [the eleven disciples] saw [the risen Jesus], they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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