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.

For All Who Are Oppressed--Oct. 8, 2017

[From Oct. 7, 2007 archive]

With eyes of compassion, dear  God,
you see  the poor and oppressed,
and you work vindication
and justice for them.

And Jesus, you had compassion
 for the widow whose only son died.
When we turn our face to the wall
and weep, may our prayers
 be not for ourselves only,
but for the oppressed.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 103; 150; 117; 139
2 Kings 20:1-21
Acts 12:1-17
Luke 7:11-17

Selected Verses
Ps. 103:6
The LORD works vindication
            and justice for all who are oppressed.

2 Kings 20:2
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD…

Acts 12:5
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw [the widow whose only son had just died], he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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