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.

Near to All Who Call on You in Truth--June 22, 2015


You are near to all who call on you,
O God, to all who call on you in truth.

These are words to remember and treasure
when we need strength to escape all the things
that will take place when there is a deathly panic,
but are also part of your whole message about this life.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 135; 145; 97; 112
1 Sam. 5:1-12
Acts 5:12-26
Luke 21:29-36

Selected Verses
Ps. 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
          to all who call on him in truth. 

1 Sam. 5:11b
For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city.  The hand of God was very heavy there…

Acts 5:19-20
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” 

Luke 21:36
"…Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”  [Jesus to his disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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