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.

Put in my Heart the Eagerness--June 7, 2013


 I pray you, put in my heart the eagerness
to join the company of worshippers,
as gratefully we celebrate all the bounty
you have given us, O gracious God.

But let me not then think I am righteous
while I regard others with contempt;
for it is your name alone that is exalted,
your glory above earth and heaven.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20
Deut. 26:1-11
2 Cor. 8:16-24
Luke 18:9-14

Selected Verses

Ps. 148:13
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
          for his name alone is exalted;
          his glory is above earth and heaven.

Deut. 26:11
Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.

2 Cor. 8:16
But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have.

Luke 18:9
[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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