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.


How Many Are the Tears--June 7, 2012



Look, how many are the tears of the oppressed.
Are you waiting for us to care for them, Jesus?

How can we do that?

Do we only need to believe what we have heard?
Will you work miracles among us if we believe?

You have dealt bountifully with us; but before
we fully rest our souls, help us share our bread.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
Eccl. 3:16-4:3
Gal. 3:1-14
Matt. 14:13-21

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:7
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
      for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

Eccl. 4:1
Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed--with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power--with no one to comfort them.

Gal. 3:5
Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Matt. 14:16
Jesus said to [his disciples], "[The crowds] need not go away; you give them something to eat."
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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