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.


Washed with Tears of Joy--May 23, 2011


Her tears of joy washed your feet, Lord Jesus.
If only I could have in my heart joy like hers;
if only the light that dawned for her
could shine upon my inner being.

I covet also the courage of Jeremiah,
who in the presence of the king
dared to confront him with
your prophecy of disaster.

Help me stay alert in prayer, giving thanks
for what I have seen of your presence,
and waiting with openness to
receive whatever more
you may grant me.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Jer. 32:1-15
Col. 3:18-4:18
Luke 7:36-50

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:11
Light dawns for the righteous,
      and joy for the upright in heart.

Jer. 32:2b-3
…and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, “Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the LORD: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it…”

Col. 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Luke 7:38
[A woman who was a sinner] stood behind [Jesus] at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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