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.

The Plea of a Troubled Soul--June 8, 2018


In anger I have been rash with my mouth,
God, and now my soul is troubled.
My boat is far from land,
battered by the waves,
against the wind.

You are in heaven,
Lord; I am on earth,
under the power of sin.
I am reaching for my faith
in Jesus, hoping to see him coming,

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20
Eccl. 5:1-17
Gal. 3:15-22
Matt. 14:22-36

Selected Verses
Ps. 88:3
For my soul is full of troubles,
          and my life draws near to Sheol. 

Eccl. 5:2
Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

Gal. 3:22
But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Matt. 14:24-25
…but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.  And early in the morning [Jesus] came walking toward [his disciples] on the sea.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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