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.

From the Same Mouth--Sept. 2, 2015


Almighty God, if even the queen of Sheba struggled
for words adequate to sing the praise of Solomon,
how much less are we able to bless your name,
or to tell of your salvation from day to day.
And even when we do bless you, how often
from the same mouth come abusive words and
accusations.  Forgive us, we know this should not be!

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
1 Kings 9:24-10:13
James 3:1-12
Mark 15:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 96:2
 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
          tell of his salvation from day to day. 

1 Kings 9:24-10:7b
"…Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard.  …"  [The queen of Sheba to King Solomon]

James 3:10
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 

Mark 15:3
Then the chief priests accused [Jesus] of many things.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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