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.

What Gift, O Holy God?--June 8, 2014


What gift could we bring to you, O Holy God,
in proportion to the blessings that we have received?

All we can do is come to you in spirit and truth,
with hearts that are glad, trusting in your holy name.

All we can do is gather together and pray for your
Holy Spirit to fill us, so boldly we can speak your word.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 150; 29; 33
Deut. 16:9-12
Acts 4:18-21, 23-33
John 4:19-26

Selected Verses
Ps. 33:21
Our heart is glad in [the LORD],
          because we trust in his holy name. 

Deut. 16:10
Then you shall keep the festival of weeks for the LORD your God, contributing a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing that you have received from the LORD your God. 

Acts 4:31
When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

John 4:23
"…But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.  …"  [Jesus to the woman from Samaria]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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