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 18, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
1 Samuel 1:1-20
Acts 1:1-14
Luke 20:9-19

II. Selections
Psalm 5:12
For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover them with favor as with a shield.

1 Samuel 1:17
Then Eli answered [ Hannah], "Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him."

Acts 1:14
All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Luke 20:9-19
[ Jesus] began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. ... "

III. Meditation: Grant us our petitions

You give us a vineyard to tend,
and you leave us to care for it;
but we need your assistance.
Bless our feeble efforts,
shield us with your favor;
and grant us our petitions,
as we devote ourselves to prayer.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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