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.

How to Interpret the Present Time--July 22, 2014


We know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky,
O God; but we do not know how to interpret the present time.
We leave the poor to sit in the dust, the needy in the ash heap;
and in so doing we transgress your commandments.
Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
forgive us and change our ways.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113
Numb. 14:26-45
Acts 15:1-12
Luke 12:49-56

Selected Verses
Ps. 113:7  
[The LORD] raises the poor from the dust,
          and lifts the needy from the ash heap…

Numb. 14:41
But Moses said, "Why do you continue to transgress the command of the LORD? That will not succeed.  …"  [Moses to the Israelites]

Acts 15:11
"…On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as [the Gentiles] will."  [Peter to the apostles and elders]

Luke 12:56
"…You hypocrites!  You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?  …"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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