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.

As We Have Been Forgiven--May 28, 2020


Father of orphans and protector of widows,
why should we think evil in our hearts?

In Christ you have forgiven us—
not by might, nor by power,

(as the world knows
might and power)

but by your Holy Spirit.
As we have been forgiven,
may we forgive one another,
and be kind and tenderhearted.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Zech. 4:1-14
Eph. 4:17-32
Matt. 9:1-8

Selected Verses
Ps. 68:5
Father of orphans and protector of widows
          is God in his holy habitation.

Zech. 4:6
[The angel] said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.  …”

Eph. 4:32
…and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Matt. 9:4
But Jesus, perceiving [the skeptics’] thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?  …”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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