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 I Think Myself Righteous--Apr. 25, 2015


Lord Jesus, I like to think of myself as righteous--
not perfect, of course, but on the right track.
Yet you did not come to call those who
consider themselves righteous,
but sinners to repentance.

Lead me beside still waters
and restore my soul, O Lord.
Make me repent like the one who
spent the night fasting and sleepless;
teach me to be faithful in showing love,
even for the stranger, for that may be you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 92; 149; 23; 114
Dan. 6:16-28
3 John 1-15
Luke 5:27-39

Selected Verses
Ps. 23:2b-3a
…[the LORD leads me beside still waters;
            he restores my soul. 

Dan. 6:18
Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

3 John 5
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you…

Luke 5:32
"…I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  [Jesus to the Pharisees and scribes]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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