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.

Let the Scales Fall from Our Eyes--July 6, 2013


 Our land is troubled, like a dry and
weary land where there is no water.

We seek you, O God; our soul thirsts
for you; and our flesh faints for you.

Brighten our eyes; let the scales fall
from them; let our scoffing end
as we see your saving power.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
1 Sam. 14:16-30
Acts 9:10-19a
Luke 23:32-43

Selected Verses

Ps. 63:1
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
          my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
          as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

1 Sam. 14:29
Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. …"

Acts 9:18a
And immediately something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and his sight was restored.

Luke 23:35
And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at [Jesus], saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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