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.

Friends Who Come without Delay--Aug. 28, 2012


Thank you for friends who come when we call them,
who do not speak peace with hearts full of mischief,
who do not withhold kindness when we are in need,
and who stay at our side when the going gets tough.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99
Job 6:1-4, 8-15, 21
Acts 9:32-43
John 6:60-71

Selected Verses
Ps. 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked,
      with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
      while mischief is in their hearts.

Job 6:14
"…Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty. …" [Job, to the three who are said to be his friends]

Acts 9:38
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."

John 6:67-68b
So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? …"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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