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.


Hands--May 11, 2011


A hand was writing on the wall;
the sight of it struck terror into the king.
Other hands laid on the sick brought healing.

The king thought he had conquered the world,
but the real conqueror was the one
whose hands healed the sick.

With our whole hearts let us
thank the one who healed the sick;
his commandments are not burdensome.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 99; 147:1-11; 9; 118
Dan. 5:1-12
1 John 5:1-12
Luke 4:38-44

Selected Verses
Ps. 9:1
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
      I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Dan. 5:5-6a
Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him.

1 John 5:3-4
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.

Luke 4:40
As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to [Jesus]; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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