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 Tears Have Been Our Food--Aug. 12, 2014


No one can receive anything unless it comes from you,
O God, and we must obey you; teach us what to do
when, day and night, tears have been our food,
and people ask us, "Where is your God?"

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133
Judg. 13:1-15
Acts 5:27-42
John 3:22-36

Selected Verses
Ps. 42:3
My tears have been my food
          day and night,
while people say to me continually,
          “Where is your God?”

Judg. 13:8
Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, "O, LORD, I pray, let the man of God whom you sent come to us again and teach us what we are to do concerning the boy who will be born."

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. …"  [Peter and the other apostles, to the council]  

John 3:27
John answered, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.  …"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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