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 26, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 112, 135
Proverbs 10:1-12
1 Timothy1:1-17
Matthew 12:22-32

II. Selections
Psalm 112:9a
They have distributed freely,
they have given to the poor ...

Proverbs 10:2
Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.

1 Timothy1:5
But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.

Matthew 12:25
[ Jesus] knew what [ the Pharisees] were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ... "

III. Meditation: An undivided heart

A pure heart is an undivided heart;
only an undivided heart will stand.

Love that comes from a pure heart,
a good conscience, and sincere faith
is love that distributes freely; gives
to the poor out of treasures gained
from righteousness, not wickedness.

We pray for a pure, undivided heart,
that freely we may give to the poor.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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