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 Staff Chosen by God--June 28, 2018


[From June 28, 2012 archive]

 O Son of Man, you are the staff chosen by God;
you came not to be served, but to serve
and give your life--a ransom for many.

Deep into our hearts, through your Spirit pour love,
ousting all the transgressions that live there;
and fill us with hope, to be servants like you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps.  36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
Num. 17:1-11
Rom. 5:1-11
Matt. 20:17-28

Selected Verses
Ps. 36:1a
Transgression speaks to the wicked
          deep in their hearts… 

Num. 17:5a
And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout…  [the LORD to Moses]

Rom. 5:5
…and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Matt. 20:28
"…just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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