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 31, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
Deuteronomy 4:35
2 Corinthians 3:4
Luke 16:1-9

II. Selections
Psalm 80:14-15
Turn again, O God of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
the stock that your right hand planted.

Deuteronomy 4:35
To you it was shown so that you would acknowledge that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

2 Corinthians 3:4
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.

Luke 16:2
" ...So [ the rich man] summoned [ his manager] and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' ... "

III. Meditation: In confidence

The rich man lost all confidence in his dishonest manager,
but Moses explained why we should be confident in you,
and Paul spoke of his confidence through Christ in you.
Like the psalmist we pray-see the plight of your church,
have regard for it, the vine that your right hand has planted.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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