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.

That Log in My Eye--Oct. 3, 2017


Most gracious and merciful God,
teach me to be gracious and merciful,
even as I think it my mission to promote
good order and unhindered devotion to you.

When I despair that all the faithful have vanished
and there is no longer anyone who is godly,
take the log out of my eye, so I may
see my own wrongdoings and
the goodness in others.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 12; 146; 36; 7
2 Chron. 29:1-3, 30:1-27
1 Cor. 7:32-40
Matt. 7:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 12:1
 Help, O LORD, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
          the faithful have disappeared from humankind. 

2 Chron. 30:9b
For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

1 Cor. 7:35
I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

Matt. 7:3
"…Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  …"  [Jesus to the crowds on the mountain]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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