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 11, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 9, 62, 73
Deuteronomy 30:1-10
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
Luke 18:31-43

II. Selections
Psalm 73:21-22
When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like a brute beast to you.

Deuteronomy 30:6
Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.

2 Corinthians 10:18
For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.

Luke 18:31-43
Then [ the blind beggar] shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

III. Meditation: Like a brute beast

When my soul is embittered and I am pricked in heart,
then I am stupid and ignorant, like a brute beast to you.
Feeling the need of commendation, I commend myself,
forgetting it is only your commendation that matters.

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!
Circumcise my heart, that I may love you
with all my heart and with all my soul.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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