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's Kingdom Among Us--June 7, 2017


Lord God, you have called us to follow you,
hold you in awe, keep your commandments,
obey your voice, and hold you fast.
Jesus taught that your kingdom is among us;
I am not sure, but perhaps he meant
that when our heart goes out to one another
in love, and when we are joined together
in obedience to you, then your kingdom
will surround us, as the mountains
surround Jerusalem.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Deut. 13:1-11
1 Cor. 7:2-16
Luke 17:20-37

Selected Verses
Ps. 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
          so the LORD surrounds his people,
          from this time on and forevermore. 

Deut. 13:4
The LORD your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast.

1 Cor. 7:15-16
 And [Titus'] heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.  I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

Luke 17:20-21
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."



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Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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