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.

Jesus, In the Futility of Our Minds--June 5, 2014


Lord Jesus, in the futility of our minds
help us to know it is not by our might,
nor by our power, but by your Spirit
that we must live.

Rebuke us when we act like wild animals,
scatter all our desire and delight in war,
trample under foot our lust for wealth.
Then assure us our sins are forgiven,
that we make take heart.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Zech. 4:1-14
Eph. 4:17-32
Matt. 9:1-8

Selected Verses
Ps. 68:30
Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds,
          the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample under foot those who lust after tribute;
          scatter the peoples who delight in war. 

Zech. 4:6
[The angel] said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Eph. 4:17
Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. 

Matt. 9:2
And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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