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.


Freed to be Servants--May 14, 2012


[from May 17, 2004 archive]

Forgive us when we listen without understanding
and see without perceiving.

Change us, that we may grow in our knowledge
of you and lead lives fully pleasing to you,
bearing fruit as we serve you.

For you have freed us to be your servants.
You are our help and our shield.
Though we hold you in awe,
we trust in you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 145; 124; 115
Lev. 25:35-55
Col. 1:9-14
Matt. 13:1-16

Selected Verses
Ps. 115:11
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
      He is their help and their shield.

Lev. 25:55
For to me the people of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Col. 1:10
…so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.

Matt. 13:14b
"…With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. …' …" [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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