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.

Table Complaints--June 26, 2013


 The night before your suffering began,
Lord Jesus, you came to the Passover table
eagerly desiring to eat with your friends.

We lament over our long suffering
and come to table complaining
about perceived neglect.

What is our suffering
compared to yours?

Teach us to hope
in your steadfast love.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
1 Sam. 7:2-17
Acts 6:1-15
Luke 22:14-23

Selected Verses

Ps. 147:11
…but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
          in those who hope in his steadfast love.

1 Sam. 7:2
From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Acts 6:1
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.

Luke 22:14
[Jesus] said to [the apostles], “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)