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.


Bless Your People--June 18, 2012

(From June 14, 2004 archive)
God, we are weak; give your people strength.
We are impatient; teach us to wait for your leading.
We are contentious; bless your people with peace.

Show us that we have much to learn
from those we consider foolish
as well as from those we deem wise,
and make us eager to teach as well as to learn.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29
Num. 9:15-23, 29-36
Rom. 1:1-15
Matt. 17:14-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 29:11
May the LORD give strength to his people!
      May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Num. 9:22
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out.

Rom. 1:14-15
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish—hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Matt. 17:19
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast [the demon] out [of the epileptic boy]?”
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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