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.

Forgive Our Transgressions--Aug. 1, 2018



Our whole world has become dark, dear Lord,
and our deeds of iniquity overwhelm us.
O God, forgive our transgressions.
Subdue our lust for power,
our desire to rule the world,
and fill us instead with the power
of your Holy Spirit, that we may work
to bring rest and peace to all the world.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91
Judges 3:12-30
Acts 1:1-14
Matt. 27:45-54

Selected Verses
Ps. 65:3
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
          you forgive our transgressions. 

Judges 3:30
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel.  And the land had rest eighty years.

Acts 1:7-8
[Jesus] replied [to his disciples], "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Matt. 27:45
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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