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.


A Matter of the Heart--June 22, 2012


It is a matter of the heart, says Paul.
Real circumcision is a matter of the heart.

Forgive your brother or sister, says Jesus,
and you must do it from your heart.

For you forgive our transgressions
when our deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,

and we are able to overcome our iniquities
with your forgiveness in our heart.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65
Numb. 13:1-3, 21-30
Rom. 2:25-3:8
Matt. 18:21-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 65:3
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
      you forgive our transgressions.

Numb. 13:30
But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."

Rom. 2:29
Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart--it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

Matt. 18:35
"…So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart." [Jesus in response to Peter's question]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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