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.

Not Vengeance, not even once--Jan. 14, 2016


 Forgive me when I seek vengeance
seventy-seven times or seven or once.
It seems I always go astray in my heart,
dear God, as if I had not known your ways.
Let your light dawn for me, that there may be
joy in my heart.  May I remember the wonders you
have already shown me, even if I never see greater ones.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
Gen. 4:17-26
Heb. 3:1-11
John 1:43-51

Selected Verses
Ps. 97:11
 Light dawns for the righteous,
          and joy for the upright in heart. 

Gen. 4:24
"…If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold."  [Lamech to his wives]

Heb. 3:10b
"…Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said, 'They always go astray in their hearts,
            and they have not known my ways.'…"

John 1:50
Jesus answered [Nathanael], "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?  You will see greater things than these." 
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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