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 Prayer before Preaching--March 26, 2013


 Lord Jesus Christ,
by the power that makes
all things subject to yourself,
help me always to remember--
to serve you, I must follow you.

Then keep my tongue from evil,
my lips from speaking deceit;
let me utter what is precious,
and not what is worthless.
Lord, let me seek peace;
O let me pursue it.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 34; 146; 25; 91
Jer. 15:10-21
Phil. 3:15-21
John 12:20-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 34:13-14
 Keep your tongue from evil,
          and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good;
          seek peace, and pursue it.

Jer. 15:19b
 If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
          you shall serve as my mouth.

Phil. 3:21
[The Lord Jesus Christ] will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

John 12:26a
"…Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.  …”  [Jesus to Philip and Andrew]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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