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.

Though Weeds Come Up--May 5, 2013


 Everything you have created, O God, is good;
though weeds come up along with grain,
your steadfast love endures forever.

Everything is to be received with thanksgiving;
for everything you have created is good,
and nothing is to be rejected.

You have remembered us in our low estate,
and we must not be hard-hearted
or tight-fisted toward our
needy neighbor.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 93; 150; 136; 117
Deut. 15:1-11
1 Tim. 3:14-4:5
Matt. 13:24-34a

Selected Verses

Ps. 136:23
It is [the LORD] who remembered us in our low estate,
          for his steadfast love endures forever…

Deut. 15:7
If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.

1 Tim. 4:4
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving…

Matt. 13:26
"…So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.  …"  [Jesus telling parables to the crowds]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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