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 13, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 117, 136
Deuteronomy 15:1-11
1 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Matthew 13:24-34a

II. Selections
Psalm 93:1b-2
He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.

Deuteronomy 15:11
Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land."

1 Timothy 4:4
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving ...

Matthew 13:33
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

III. Meditation: Yeast

You are from everlasting, and you have established the world.
Everything you created is good; make us thankful for your gifts,
and help us open our hand to the poor and needy in our land;
for the effect of giving in your name is yeast hidden in the dough.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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