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 30, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 130, 139
Proverbs 23:19-21, 29-24:2
1 Timothy 5:17-25
Matthew 13:31-35

II. Selections
Psalm 32:6
Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.

Proverbs 23:19
Hear, my child, and be wise,
and direct your mind in the way.

1 Timothy 5:25
So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.

Matthew 13:33
[ Jesus] told [ the crowds] a 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: Leaven to our faith

Be leaven to our faith-
direct our mind in the way,
that we may do good work,
whether conspicuous or hidden.

As we offer prayer to you,
at a time of distress
the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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