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.

Am I Good Seed?--June 2, 2018

[From June 2, 2012 archive; adapted from June 1, 2002]

Am I one of the good seed, sown by you?
A man of God, child of your kingdom?

Do I pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, endurance, gentleness?

Or a city breached, without walls--
a man who lacks self-control?

Sometimes one description fits,
at least in part; sometimes the other.

Still, you are my God; and I will
give thanks to you and extol you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 56; 149; 118; 111
Prov. 25:15-28
1 Tim. 6:6-21
Matt. 13:36-43

Selected Verses
Ps. 118:28
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
          you are my God, I will extol you.

Prov. 25:28
Like a city breached, without walls,
            is one who lacks self-control.

1 Tim. 6:11
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

Matt. 13:37-38a
[Jesus] answered [his disciples], “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom…"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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