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.

God Answer Us in a Day of Trouble--Jan. 4, 2018


God protect us--we live in a day of trouble.
We must make the most of the time;
climate disruption is an evil for our world.

Some stand and bear the burden
of warning all humanity of the danger,
while others, foolish or selfish,
scoff at their efforts and deny the peril.

And glaciers melt, oceans warm and rise,
hurricanes destroy, wildfires burn,
droughts alternate with floods, crops fail.

How long will it take us to cross
to the other bank, where reason prevails,
leaving our indifference behind?

May we understand your will, O God,
and work to do it, lest one day
changing climate wreaks such havoc
 no one will be left to work.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 20; 147:12-20; 93; 97
Josh. 3:14-4:7
Eph. 5:1-20
John 9:1-12, 35-38

Selected Verses
Ps. 20:1
The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
          The name of the God of Jacob protect you! 

Josh. 3:17
While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

Eph. 5:15-17
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

John 9:4
"…We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]



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Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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