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.

May 22, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 115, 124
Leviticus 25:35-55
Colossians 1:9-14
Matthew 13:1-16

II. Selections
Psalm 115:13
[ The LORD] will bless those who fear the LORD,
both small and great.

Leviticus 25:55
For to me the people of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

Colossians 1:10
...so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.

Matthew 13:16
" ...But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ..." [ Jesus, to his disciples]

III. Meditation: Bless us, small and great
Bless us, gracious God;
bless us, small and great,
for we fear you.
Bless our eyes, that we may see,
and our ears, that we may hear.

Bless our lives,
that they may be worthy of Jesus,
fully pleasing to him.
Bless our work, that it may bear fruit.
Bless us as we grow in our knowledge of you.

For we are your people,
your servants
whom you brought out of slavery;
and you are the Lord, our God.
Bless your servants, gracious God.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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