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.

Make Us Humble and Bold--Aug. 8, 2014


Gentle God, make us humble, for only when we are
humble will you lead us in what is right,
only then teach us your way.

If we have learned your way
make us bold to speak your Word,
like Jotham, the apostles, and even Mary.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40
Judg. 9:1-16, 19-21
Acts 4:13-21
John 2:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 25:9
[The LORD] leads the humble in what is right,
          and teaches the humble his way. 

Judg. 9:7
When [Abimelech's slaughter of his 70 brothers] was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to [the lords who had made Abimelech king], "Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.  …"

Acts 4:29
"…And now, Lord, look at [the threats of the ones who killed Jesus], and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness…"  [The friends of Peter and John, praying]

John 2:3
When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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