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.


On Speaking Truth--May 30, 2012



God, we want to walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth of the gospel from our hearts,
and act consistently with what we speak;
but sometimes our rash words
bring great harm.

Teach us what to promise, and when to withhold promises;
teach us when to speak the truth to sister or brother,
and when is the time to keep silence,
lest what we tear is more
than we can sew.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
Eccl. 3:1-15
Gal. 2:11-21
Matt. 14:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 15:2
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
      and speak the truth from their heart…

Eccl. 3:7
…a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…

Gal. 2:14a
But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all…

Matt. 14:9-10
The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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