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 Separate what God Joins Together--June 21, 2014


Do not forsake the work of your hands, dear God,
even if we separate what you joined together.
We, all of us, are under the power of sin.
Forgive our iniquity according to the
greatness of your steadfast love.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Numb. 13:31-14:25
Rom. 3:9-20
Matt. 19:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
          your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
          Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Numb. 14:19
"…Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now."  [Moses to the LORD]

Rom. 3:9
What then?  Are we any better off?  No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin…

Matt. 19:6
"…So [man and wife] are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."  [Jesus to the Pharisees who came to test him]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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