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.


Could We Bear to Know?--Aug. 22, 2011

Jesus said he had already told his disciples everything.
Perhaps he had, but we are full of questions.

Yet we know you will fulfill your purpose for us,
and that your help will be available to us.

David spoiled Adonijah by not telling
him when he had trespassed.

Do you make us aware of all our trespasses?
If you did, could we bear to know?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
1 Kings 1:1-31
Acts 26:1-23
Mark 13:14-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 57:2
I cry to God Most High,
      to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

1 Kings 1:6
[Adonijah's] father [King David] had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.

Acts 26:22a
"…To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great …" [Paul to King Agrippa]

Mark 13:23
"… But be alert; I have already told you everything. …" [Jesus to Peter, James, John, and Andrew]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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