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.

Who Are We to Answer God’s Call?--May 24, 2020


We praise you, O God; great is
your steadfast love toward us.

With such love from you,
can we refuse the call of love?

Your faithfulness endures forever—
how can we hesitate to follow your call,
or question that we have authority to do so?  

I do not intend to tread on snakes or scorpions,
but I should not fear to tackle hate and prejudice.
I am no Moses, but dare I not speak truth to power?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 93; 150; 136; 117
Exod. 3:1-12
Heb. 12:18-29
Luke 10:17-24

Selected Verses
Ps. 117:2
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
          and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

Exod. 3:11
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 

Heb. 12:25
See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 

Luke 10:19
“…See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.  …”  [Jesus, to the seventy]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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