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.

When We Go Astray--April 12, 2018



You would have us lift up the poor and the needy
and treat them like royalty, O God;
you would feed each with a fair share of food,
and when we go astray, you would
return us to the Shepherd and Guardian
of our souls, commanding us
to love one another.
Blessed be your name.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Exod. 16:10-22
1 Peter 2:11-3:12
John 15:12-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 113:7-8
[The LORD] raises the poor from the dust,
          and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
          with the princes of his people. 

Exod. 16:18
But when [the Israelites] measured [their manna] with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. 

1 Peter 2:25
For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

John 15:17
"…I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.  …"  [Jesus to the eleven]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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