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.

When My Anger Grows Hot--May 9, 2022

[From May 4, 2020 archive]

 

When my anger burns hot, remind me O God,

that I am human, by no means divine,

lest I break what is precious.

 

May my speech be gracious, seasoned with salt,

even if I have adversaries all around me,

so that I may be a peacemaker.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115

Exod. 32:1-20

Col. 3:18-4:18

Matt. 5:1-10

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 97:3

Fire goes before [the LORD],
          and consumes his adversaries on every side.

 

Exod. 32:19

As soon as [Moses] came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

 

Col. 4:6

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

 

Matt. 5:9

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  …”  [Jesus, to the crowds on the mountain]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

3 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaMay 9, 2022 at 7:06 PM

    It's hard to be a peacemaker.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ElmerMay 9, 2022 at 10:19 PM

      Agreed--which is a pity, because I often could use one. 😊

      Delete
    2. ElmerMay 9, 2022 at 10:20 PM

      Agreed. Which is a pity, because I could often use one.

      Delete

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