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.

Deep into the Well--Aug. 15, 2012



Your name, like the understanding of who you are,
is too wonderful for us.

We make our feeble attempts, not only to understand you,
but to manipulate and control you.
You frustrate our plans.

We think we are too important to perform humble service,
only to find that some designated for humble service
outshine our own attempts at "higher things."

Teach us to hope in your steadfast love, dipping deep
into the well of your living water;
and we will begin to understand.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 89:1-18; 147:1-11; 1; 33
Judg. 13:15-24
Acts 6:1-15
John 4:1-26

Selected Verses
Ps. 33:10, 22
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
      he frustrates the plans of the peoples. …
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
      even as we hope in you.

Judg. 13:18
But the angel of the LORD said to [Manoah], "Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful."

Acts 6:8
And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. …"

John 4:11
The woman said to [Jesus], "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? …"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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