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.

Persecution and Panic--July 5, 2013


 When they persecuted you, Lord Jesus, there was trembling  
and wailing; bones shaking with terror; great panic  
everywhere. 

Today when babies died of hunger because their mothers
were starving; when there was panic all around for
lack of food,

while I was languishing in my comfortable space,
I wonder--was I too guilty of persecuting
you, Jesus?

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20
1 Sam. 13:19-14:15
Acts 9:1-9
Luke 23:26-31

Selected Verses

Ps. 6:2
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
          O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.

1 Sam. 14:15
There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic.

Acts 9:5
[Saul] asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  …"

Luke 23:27
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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