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.


Grapes and Figs, or Thorns and Thistles--May 12, 2012



Gracious God, we need to be reminded of our history with you.
(I seem to require reminders multiple times per day.)

I pray that you will direct my heart to your love
and to the steadfastness of Christ,

for without you I am by no means steadfast in righteousness.
For grapes, I produce thorns; for figs, thistles.

In old age I want to produce good fruit; be my rock--
there is no unrighteousness in you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 92; 149; 23; 114
Lev. 23:23-44
2 Thess. 3:1-18
Matt. 7:13-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 92:14-15
In old age [the righteous] still produce fruit;
      they are always green and full of sap,
showing that the LORD is upright;
      he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Lev. 23:42-43
You shall live in booths for seven days; all that are citizens in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

2 Thess. 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Matt. 7:16
"…You will know [false prophets] by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? …" [Jesus on the mountain, to his disciples and the crowds]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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