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.

June 23, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 51, 65, 142
Numbers 13:1-3, 21-30
Romans 2:25-3:8
Matthew 18:21-35

II. Selections
Psalm 142:3a
When my spirit is faint,
you know my way.

Numbers 13:30
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy [ the Land of Canaan], for we are well able to overcome it."

Romans 3:3
What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

Matthew 18:21-35
"' ...Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' ..."

III. Meditation: In need of mercy

My spirit is faint,
but you know my way.
You show me the Promised Land,
but I am a skeptic.
Though I am faithless,
you are still faithful.
I show small mercy for others, or myself;
but I stand in great need of your mercy.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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