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.

For the Poor, Without Measure--Feb. 22, 2013


  O God, you execute justice for the orphan and the widow,
love strangers, and provide them food and clothing.

Therefore we make bold to approach your throne of grace,
that the poor may receive mercy, and that we may
receive grace to help them in time of need.

Lord, you give the Spirit without measure;
without measure may we work so that
the poor may eat and be satisfied.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 22; 148; 105; 130
Deut. 10:12-22
Heb. 4:11-16
John 3:22-36

Selected Verses

Ps. 22:26a
The poor shall eat and be satisfied…

Deut. 10:18
…who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing.

Heb. 4:16
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

John 3:34
He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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