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.

For Alms, the Things Within--Oct. 27, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 96, 147:1-11, 132, 134
Nahum 1:1-14
Revelation 12:1-6
Luke 11:37-52

II. Selections
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted,
      and binds up their wounds.

Nahum 1:13
“…And now I will break off his yoke from you
      and snap the bonds that bind you.

Revelation 12:5b-6
But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

Luke 11:41
“…So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. …” [Jesus to the Pharisee who was his host at dinner]

III. Meditation

O God, you heal the brokenhearted;
you bandage their wounds.

You break off our yokes
and snap the bonds that bind us.

Teach us to give for alms the things within,
and everything will be clean.

In the wilderness of our lives prepare a place for us
and nourish us there until we are taken before your throne.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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