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.

When We Ask You to Hear Our Prayer--Nov. 10, 2013


 God, we expect you to be attentive to our prayer
but fail to recognize your voice calling us.

And if we hear but fail to respond,
we begin to make all our excuses.

O God, as we start to mount our defense
help us stop instead and accept your invitation.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113
Ezra 10:1-17
Acts 24:10-21
Luke 14:12-24

Selected Verses

Ps. 81:5b
I hear a voice I had not known…

Neh. 1:11a
"…O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant…"

Acts 24:10a
When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "I cheerfully make my defense…"

Luke 14:18
But [those invited to the dinner] all alike began to make excuses.  The first said to [the host], 'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.'  …"  [from Jesus' parable of the great dinner]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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